Jarrod is an Associate and our Auckland Office’s Hydraulic Section Head.
He has worked on a wide variety of projects in several sectors including retail centres, schools, aged care facilities, office blocks, apartments, hotels, laboratories, hospitals and data centres.
Jarrod has been project leader on many multi-service design projects. He has demonstrated excellent leadership and collaboration skills with clients, design teams and contractors to help deliver successful projects.
Here, Jarrod reflects on his early introduction to the construction industry, what makes good hydraulic design and what it was like to work on Auckland’s heritage listed Hayman Kronfeld Building.
What inspired you to become an engineer?
My Dad works within the construction industry as a main contractor which gave me exposure to the industry at a young age and I was always good at maths, so I combined the two and the path out of school saw me head down the engineering route.
Why hydraulics engineering?
No reason for hydraulic engineering, I sort of more fell into it. I did a summer internship for NDY in 2013 while I was still at university which I really enjoyed. A year later I saw a job advertisement for a role as a graduate hydraulic engineer, I applied and was lucky enough to be successful. I didn’t really understand what hydraulic engineering was when I first got the job, but it has been a great move.
What’s your career highlight project?
The Hayman Kronfeld building, an existing heritage listed building within the Britomart Precinct for one our key clients, Cooper and Company. The client’s vision was to create a space where their existing timber structure was highlighted and celebrated. We worked closely with the architects to ensure the exposed service runs were consolidated and well thought out.
On completion of the project the client said it was the benchmark for services integration into an existing heritage building. The project received the Heritage & Adaptive reuses property award at the recent Property Council NZ awards.
Tell us about the hydraulics engineering on this project.
While I was working in the NDY London office I worked on the 2 More London project where I designed a vacuum drainage system for an end-of-trip facility in the basement of the existing building. Initially I looked at a system with a pump chamber within the basement area but due to a large amount of existing concrete and concerns about digging the slab (due to hydrostatic pressure) this option wasn’t viable. I then designed a system with multiple smaller pumps while also investigating the feasibility of a vacuum drainage system, which was suggested by Ben Castle.
Both options were viable and presented to Cooper and Company who decided to go with the vacuum drainage system. After consultation with the vacuum drainage supplier and the relevant codes, I designed a vacuum drainage system that was successfully installed and commissioned.
What innovative new approaches are you seeing when it comes to hydraulics engineering?
Currently we are seeing a lot of decarbonisation projects in the industry, changing traditional gas hot water systems to heat pumps or instantaneous electric 3 phase units which is increasing the demand on electrical infrastructure.
Prefabricated bathroom pods are also being used which significantly speeds up the construction process, reducing the overall cost which is appealing to clients. As hydraulic engineers we need to ensure the sequencing of the pipe out is worked through, as once the pod is installed there is little space between the top of the pod and underside of the slab above for the hydraulic subcontractor to get in and install the pipework.
If you’ve worked across regions or countries, and/or across Tetra Tech operating units, can you tell us about the key similarities and differences you’ve encountered when it comes to hydraulics engineering and your projects?
I spent a year in the NDY London office working under Ben Castle, there were differences however the principles generally remained the same. In the UK, pipework reticulation was predominately vertical with more risers; however, in New Zealand we see a lot more horizontal reticulation of pipework within ceiling spaces. With different regions, there are different water regulations and water qualities, especially in London with the water being hard, water softeners and water conditioners were standard practise.
Where do you see the future of hydraulics engineering heading?
Heat pump technology and efficiencies will continue to improve, prefabrication of bathrooms and other wet areas is also likely to continue to be used.
What legacy do you want to leave, when it comes to your career?
Someone who is a good teammate and has passed my knowledge on to others. I have been very lucky to have learnt from Shay Gordon, Lance Craigie and Ben Castle who are all excellent engineers and mentors, I want to pass that knowledge onto the next generation of engineers.
What is it like to be a young engineer in hydraulic engineering?
Hydraulic engineering is like anything else: you get out what you put in. If you are willing to learn and put in the hours required, you will come out as a sought after engineer.
If you feel comfortable to do so, tell us a bit about your background (culturally).
Born in Auckland I am of New Zealand European decent. I grew up playing a lot of sports and team based activities.
How does diversity of background and thought influence how you deliver your projects?
I can remember sitting in many site offices on a Saturday morning as a kid before Saturday sport. I got a very early education into the world of construction, which has given me an ability to communicate effectively with people within the industry.
I also grew up playing lots of sport which taught me to be a good teammate and can be directly applied into workplace.
Tell us a bit about good hydraulics design. What are the key considerations?
The best piece of hydraulic design advice I was given was that good design is simple design. Over complicating design and systems does not always provide benefit to the project but if you are able to simplify that design then that is the best solution.
