GHD celebrates outstanding achievements in South Australia

One of the world’s leading engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services companies, GHD, has been recognised alongside clients and partners at Engineers Australia Excellence Awards – South Australia Division 2016.

The company was part of the team awarded for innovative design and construction of the South Road Superway, a 4.8 km long expressway-standard corridor created as part of a wider program to create a high speed north-south arterial link across the city.

In addition, GHD’s Adrian Spencer received an individual award for his structural engineering achievements.

Raising the bar for road and bridge construction

The South Road Superway project features a 2.8 km long elevated roadway, which carries up to eight lanes of traffic. The match cast segmental superstructure was constructed using the balanced cantilever method.

Van Tang, GHD’s Manager – South Australia, says, “The South Road Superway is a truly remarkable engineering achievement. Its unique requirements challenged traditional design and construction methods to set a new benchmark for advanced road and segmental bridge construction in Australia. Congratulations to everyone who made this project a success.”

As lead consultant, GHD provided all engineering design services, with major sub-consultants SMEC and IBT. The project was delivered by the Urban Superway Joint Venture (John Holland and Leed Engineering) for the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

Engineer tackles complex challenges

Adrian Spencer, a chartered Senior Structural Engineer at GHD, was named South Australian Young Professional Engineer of the Year, in recognition of his engineering achievements.

The judges cited his technical and leadership skills on a number of high-profile projects in Adelaide, including the South Road Superway, South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, and the state’s new remembrance site, the ANZAC Centenary Memorial Garden Walk. During his career Adrian has achieved a significant contribution to community projects, and has demonstrated resourcefulness, problem solving, pioneering use of materials and sustainability practices, and an application of innovative design, construction and aesthetic value.

Adrian’s career has taken him beyond South Australia to engineer meteorological facilities in Melbourne, Sydney, Esperance, Broome, Darwin, Townsville, Mount Isa, Charleville, Point Crib, Gunnedah, Lord Howe Island, Antarctica and Fiji.

Adrian has also been a state committee member of the South Australian Concrete Institute of Australia for more than eight years, and is a Green Star Associate of the Green Building Council of Australia.

Reflecting on the award, Adrian says, “I am very honored to receive this award, and be recognised by my peers. Over my career at GHD I have been given significant opportunity, and feel fortunate to have contributed to number of really exciting and challenging projects here in Adelaide and abroad. I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as a professional engineer in teams across a variety of industries. In the years ahead, I look forward to contributing to more projects which deliver lasting community benefit, new challenges, new technologies, leadership opportunities, and meeting many more people along the way.”