dan mackenzie

managing director

b eng (hons) building services engineering

member institution of engineers australia

member chartered institute of building services engineers

affiliate royal australian institute of architects

founding member australian architecture association

registered building practitioner (vic & qld)

accredited green star professional

affiliate society of façade engineering

affiliate of institute for the conservation of cultural material (aiccm)

Dan is the Managing Director of the practice and is responsible for ensuring Steensen Varming maintains its commitment to quality, continuous improvement and its position at the forefront of design. He works to understand the broader issues that are important in nurturing the client relationship, in order to mould the best, balanced solutions. Dan responds best to strong, aspirational clients who demand excellence.

Dan, who has worked at Steensen Varming throughout his professional career, has managed the successful delivery of a variety of challenging and iconic projects both in Australasia and Europe, from concept to beyond completion. He has extensive experience in the responsible application of sustainable design, high reliability engineering and the aesthetic considerations of building services.

Dan believes the design profession is blessed with the role of improving life through a better built environment. In keeping with this belief, he is committed to the concept of integrated 'total architecture', which represents a holistic approach to design. In this view, the engineering and architecture disciplines coalesce in recognition of a mutual respect and that they have the same goal - to provide a cohesive solution.

chris arkins

director

b.eng mechanical

member institution of engineers australia

accredited building practitioner

member of the green building council of australia, green star technical working group

technical commitee member for australian standards EN003 - energy efficiency & thermal performance of buildings

accredited green star professional

member of the australian institute of refrigeration, air conditioning & heating

Chris is a Director of the Practice, who enjoys the demands that accompany his role in developing and coordinating the delivery of specialist environmental and sustainable design services. He has a driving passion for sustainable design and introduces innovative solutions that provide the functionality and technical detail that complement some of the best architecture in Australia.

He began his career at Steensen Varming and then worked elsewhere briefly and developed his skills in the then marginal concept of environmentally sustainable design (ESD). The subsequent refinement and strengthening of his ESD credentials owes much to the supportive culture at Steensen Varming, which cherishes the values inherent in always aiming for quality outcomes.

Chris has completed a variety of challenging projects encompassing the design of innovative, low energy mechanical and passive systems. He has achieved specialised competence in geothermal heat pump systems, solar slab heating, natural ventilation, daylighting and mixed mode ventilation systems.

barry tam

bsc (mechanical engineering)

fellow institution of engineers australia

member acea

rpeq

• Speaker at range of professional and academic forums including: Sustainable Campuses Conference (2003 & 2004), Hybrid Ventilation Systems (2002), The Environmentally Responsible University (2002), Laboratory Design and Technology (2001)
• 2000 RAIA National Award in ESD - UNSW Institute of Languages Building
• Commendation Award in Conservation, 2000 RAIA NSW Chapter - Customs House
• Architectural Award in Conservation and Adaptive Re-use, 1999 RAIA - Bridgeclimb
• Building L5, UNSW, 2007 RIBA Award for International Buildings

Barry is a multi-award winning mechanical engineer, educated in Canada, with over 30 years experience both in Australia and overseas. He offers specialist expertise in innovative solutions and energy conservation designs.

He is proud to be respected for his leadership and the quality of his strategic thought. He believes that the strength and success of Steensen Varming comes from an ability to provide simple solutions for challenging problems.

Barry is vehement about the role of his profession in society and the responsibility that it entails. He is a strong proponent of the inter-relationship between engineering and architecture, believing that the two disciplines should be an integrated whole in the pursuit of the optimum project outcome.

roland towning

technical director

bsc environmental engineering

professional affiliations

national professional engineers register

registered practising engineer queensland (rpeq)

member of cibse chartered institute of building services engineers

member institution of engineers australia

chartered professional engineer

member of the society of light and lighting

green star accredited professional

Roland began his career with an electrical apprenticeship in the UK and progressed into the engineering ranks. He then gravitated to project management on large-scale projects before returning to the engineering fold, including working alongside Steensen Varming on a big capital works project. The high reputation of Steensen Varming, and the fact that they had an office in Australia, attracted him to join the company.

Over the past two decades, Roland has developed into a key senior member of the firm, directing mechanical and electrical teams. In addition to assembling the various disciplines and coordinating those services for a project, Roland has particularly strong design skills and experience in electrical and communications systems and in specialist areas like incinerators, lifts and medical gases. He loves his family and his work in that order and is proud of the fact that Steensen Varming treats its own people like family.

michael harrold

technical director

eec grad cert mgt (tech mgt)

app cert acea

qualified electrical supervisor licence

lic security consultant

affiliate chartered institute of building services engineers

accredited green star professional

associate iald

member lift engineering society

illumination awards for sydney art gallery and asian gallery

ies lighting award - blacktown library

ies lighting award - ian thorpe aquatic centre

"papers presented to the neca (national electrical communications association): standby power and energy"

iald lighting award of excellence 2008 - ian thorpe aquatic centre, ultimo

From the formative years in his career, originally as a tradesperson, Michael has been attracted to the idea of designing and creating something unique and sustainable. The opportunity to realise this desire proceeded in stages from the electrical trade, to design drafting and through into engineering.

He has been with Steensen Varming for nearly two decades, progressing to become a team leader/team player, delivering services in communications, lighting, vertical transport and security systems. As a Technical Director, Michael coordinates the delivery of solutions that satisfy client requirements and the architect's intent.

Michael enjoys and contributes to a work environment that is adorned with a high level of professional experience and one that mentors and develops the skills-set of all professional staff. He is dedicated to providing the best long-term solutions, not necessarily those shaped by short-term expediency.

michael fearnley

technical director

m des sc building services

grad cert (illum)

electrical eng diploma

member chartered institute of building services engineers

member of the illuminating engineering society (ies)

accredited green star professional

ies (nsw award of commendation 1999 for scientia building at the unsw

ies (nsw) award of commendation 2002 for marshals motors

ies (nsw) award of excellence 2005 for the mint

ies (aust. & nz) award of excellence 2006 for the mint

Michael delights in great design. He combines his team leadership role as a Technical Director with his Lead Designer role in the enjoyment of creative design and dealing with creative people.

He has a particular interest and skill in lighting design and has spent the past 20 years sharpening his skills, including the past decade with Steensen Varming. Michael is instrumental in establishing the design direction for electrical services and lighting design on a variety of challenging and landmark projects, focusing always on achieving the best outcome for the client.

A keen soccer player for many years, he carries into his work the spirit of competitiveness and working cooperatively to create the best outcome. Michael appreciates the fact that this ethic is endorsed in his workplace, where everyone is inspired to create something special.

richard crampton

technical director

b eng (hons) building services

higher national cert building services engineering

member institution of engineers australia

member chartered institute of building services engineers

accredited green star professional

named as one of the top 30 'up and coming professionals' in building services journal 2009

Richard has a strong professional interest in close-control air-conditioning work, which began during an in-industry year at the National Physics Laboratory in the UK during his university course. He now has substantial experience in this field, which is particularly important on many heritage projects that have sensitive temperature and humidity requirements.

When not pushing himself on the football field or on his guitar, Richard is stimulated by the range and status of projects on which he works and by the drive to produce a quality product.

mirjam roos

associate

dipl. ing. (interior architecture), ma (architectural lighting design)

associate international association of lighting designers

member professional lighting designers association

accredited green star professional

Mirjam integrates a thorough understanding of both lighting design and architecture into her work at Steensen Varming, delivering design services in architectural lighting, landscape lighting and luminaire design. Originally from Germany, Mirjam has worked as an interior architect and architectural lighting designer in both Germany and Austria.

Her training and experience allow her to understand the architect and his or her intent. She works with the materials and the building as a whole to design lighting that suits both the building and its interiors, to enhance the visual experience and to create the most appropriate atmosphere.

Miriam's love of buildings, architecture and art well suits her decision to pursue a career in lighting design and among clients and consultants alike her input is highly valued, from concept design to final commissioning.

emrah baki ulas

associate

ma architectural lighting design

bsc electrical & electronic engineering

adjunct lecturer, university of technology sydney

accredited green star professional

winner of the international sll 'young lighting designer of the year 2008' award

Emrah's career with "light" began working for the International Istanbul Biennial, and numerous other international events organised by "Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts", where he worked during his university years. Following an engineering degree and theatrical lighting studies in Bogazici University Istanbul/Turkey, he studied Master's degree in Architectural Lighting Design at the University of Wismar/Germany. He lived in Turkey, Colombia, Germany and Greece before coming to Australia. Emrah also does teaching and tutoring at the University of Technology Sydney. He has taken part in various international lighting events, presented papers being the youngest speaker in lighting conferences and events in Australia, Germany, UK, Canada and Italy. His wide ranging work includes involvement with prestigious architectural lighting projects as well as research papers on lighting, musical compositions, sound & light installations, collaboration on short films and luminaire design.

Emrah is the winner of Cibse's International "Young Lighter of the Year 2008" award, and Worshipful Company of Lightmongers "Best Presentation" award in London for his work "Light and Modes of Appearances in Perception of Architectural Contexts".

Damien Kenny

associate

Mechanical Engineering Degree

pg dip (building services)

mcibse

ceng

Damien recently joined Steensen Varming from London. He is a focused individual with first-class technical and innovative skills and a wide-range of experience across a number of high profile developments in the UK and Middle East.

He is acutely aware of the need for a holistic design approach and his familarity with overseas projects has provided him with considerable experience in delivering fast track, dynamic projects.

With a keen interest in developing a low-carbon economy, Damien's goal is to develop and deliver simple yet elegant design solutions.