5
Stars Target NABERS Energy Rating
$1.2m
Total Project Value
300+
VAV units retrofitted.
Project Highlights
- Delivered a cost-effective retrofit by leveraging Honeywell’s open platform and reusing existing infrastructure from the proprietary Honeywell XL controllers.
- Successfully managed installation in a fully occupied, near-24/7 building with minimal disruption to tenants.
- Established the foundations for a NABERS uplift from 3 to 5 stars.
460 Lonsdale’s Tech Stack
Honeywell Optimiser Controllers
Honeywell Optimiser controllers provide reliable, open-protocol building automation, designed to improve energy efficiency, flexibility, and long-term maintainability.
- •Open-protocol and scalable – Built on BACnet/IP, enabling seamless integration with third-party systems while future-proofing the building’s controls.
- •Ease of deployment and support – Modular design with intuitive programming and wide industry adoption, making them straightforward to retrofit, commission, and maintain.
Tridium Niagara N4
Tridium’s Niagara framework is designed as a Systems Integration Platform with native support for BACnet, Lonworks, Modbus and more, plus many manufacturer-specific protocols.
- •Truly open platform for developers
- •Modern cybersecurity standards
- •Highly customisable
Project Snapshot
| Project Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Client | Owned by Najee Holdings |
| Project Address | 460 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. |
| Project Timeline | Project commenced June 2024, and was completed by June 2025. |
| Services Provided | BMS retrofit – upgraded a Honeywell EBI system to Tridium Niagara, and replaced Honeywell XL controllers with Honeywell optimisers and VAVs. |
| Partners | Alvimia Consultants, HSB Consultants, Airtron Mechanical, Westwood Electrical. |
Building Background
460 Lonsdale Street sits at the heart of Melbourne’s legal precinct and is primarily used as barristers’ chambers. With a diverse mix of subdivisions and layouts, the building is near 100% occupancy and operates almost 24/7.
The client sought to improve the NABERS Energy Rating from 3 Stars to 5, with a BMS retrofit forming a key part of the energy efficiency strategy. The challenge was clear: deliver a large-scale controls upgrade with minimal disruption to tenants in a fully occupied, high-demand building.
Scope of Project
Oztech delivered a full-spectrum retrofit, including:
- BMS & Network Upgrade – New Tridium Niagara 4 platform, enterprise-grade server with redundancy, JACE controllers, BACnet integration, secure web access, and a resilient fibre/CAT6 backbone.
- Plantroom & Equipment Controls – Replacement of DDCs with BACnet controllers, integration of boilers, cooling towers, VSDs, chilled water plant optimiser, and new temperature/CO₂/humidity sensors.
- Floor & AHU Controls – 300+ VAV upgrades, new damper actuators, AHUs, PAC/FCU/AC units, and additional zone sensors across Levels 9–18 for flexible zoning and advanced monitoring.
- Commissioning & Support – Engineering, programming, monthly tuning during DLP, operator training, documentation, dilapidation reports, and integration with fire, generator, hydraulics, and lighting systems.
No interruptions to building operations occurred throughout the transition—systems were handed over live and fully functional.
The Oztech Difference
Proven Capability
Extensive retrofit experience allowed Oztech to confidently plan, communicate, and execute works.
Beyond Compliance
Oztech went further than most to deliver: dilapidation reports, ongoing monthly tuning, operator training, and as-built documentation.
Multi-platform capabilities
The most cost-effective solution was to use Honeywell’s open-protocol solution as it enabled much of the existing infrastructure to be used.
Looking Ahead
Oztech continues to support the ongoing performance of the BMS, with key future plans including:
- Taking over the service contract, ensuring consistent support and optimisation.
- Commencing the tuning optimisation phase to align performance with the 5-Star NABERS target.
