A trans-Tasman reflection on the year that was from Glen Mitchell, CEO Australia and Stuart Harris, CEO New Zealand.
“In a year of standstill and lockdown, Holmes Fire carried on delivering engineering excellence across Australia and New Zealand.
While our staff worked remotely (some for months), our clients and projects were always front and centre. From Taranaki to Townsville, Perth to Petone, Auckland to Antarctica we provided fire designs for hundreds of projects, across all sectors and sizes.
As always, we tackled a range of challenges for our clients. These included advice and feasibility reviews for cladding remediation, bespoke Performance Solutions for major, publicly funded projects, incorporation of fire safety solutions in sensitive heritage fabric, and even code advice for a contemporary art installation, which incorporates fire.
Holmes is a company that thrives on diversity. And our jobs list was one of the most diverse we’ve ever had, with government stimulus funding ensuring a stream of shovel-ready projects requiring quality fire designs.
While we celebrated our work on high-profile, award-winning projects, we were equally delighted to play our part in delivering more modest but significant community projects, including housing for vulnerable community members.
Our engineers relished advising architectural teams on creative solutions to support design intent. Our expertise in mass timber, steel, concrete and hybrid structures saw our structural fire engineers constantly in demand – a trend we know will continue with more commissioners and developers requiring sustainable environments for building end-users.
We proudly gave back … to our profession, the built environment sector and the community at large. Our staff were actively involved in peak engineering bodies, gave guest lectures, site tours and presentations for student and emerging practitioners, and organised office fundraising campaigns. While for many people, 2021 was a year of introversion and seclusion, our Holmes team remained actively engaged with peers and partners throughout the year.
2021 was a year for our recruitment record books. We welcomed 18 new people to our Australian and New Zealand teams – more than any other year in our history.
We’d like to thank our valued clients (both our long-time collaborators and our new customers) for your support and belief in bespoke consultancies like Holmes Fire.
Thank you as well to our myriad of stakeholders, including fire brigades, approval authorities, and other building professionals. Your positive and productive assistance, in often challenging circumstances, is warmly appreciated.
We wish you and your team the very best for this holiday season and look forward to working with you in 2022.”
Project image credits:
- New Performing Arts Venue, Brisbane | Render courtesy BlightRayner & Arts Queensland
- The Hotel Britomart, Wellington | Image courtesy Cheshire Architects & Sam Hartnett Photography
- 44 Martin Place, Sydney | Image courtesy Hassell and Marcus Clinton Photography
- Commercial Bay, Auckland | Render courtesy Warren & Mahoney
- Santa Sophia College, Sydney | BVN Architecture. Image courtesy Buildcorp
- Christchurch Arts Centre Te Matakiki Toi Ora | Warren & Mahoney. Image courtesy Michal Klajban
- Jubilee Place, Brisbane | Render courtesy BlightRayner, JGL Properties and Watpac
- Michael Fowler Precinct, Wellington | Render courtesy Willis Bond
- Foodstuff New Zealand Headquarters | Image courtesy Monk Mackenzie and Thomas Seear-Budd Photography
- The Ribbon, Sydney | Render courtesy Hassell
- James Cook University Technology Innovation Centre, Townsville | Render courtesy Kirk, JCU and Watpac