Articles

There's a trap project managers fall into on seismic compliance for non-structural elements under AS1170.4. They cut engineering hours upfront to save money. Cheap or free engineering is expensive to build. The MacLeamy curve explains why. Your ability to influence cost is highest at the start of a project, and the cost of changing anything climbs steeply once construction begins. Spend more engineering time during design and you shift the effort forward, resolving clashes and coordinating services on screen instead of on the slab.   The Problem: The Brace Everything Trap When an engineer is rushed or lacks specialist seismic expertise, they take the path...

At KUSCH, we believe great engineering starts with great people - and great people have lives that venture beyond design. Our team brings their whole selves to work, and that means bringing passions, pursuits, and "other lives" that make them sharper, more curious, and more creative. We want to celebrate those double lives - the ones that remind us that when engineers stay balanced, they build better. This month, meet Tim Leithhead, mechanical engineer by day and racing driver and founder of 67 Engineering by weekend. Tim's relationship with motorsport started at age six, going racing with his dad. It's where his...

Structural engineering for the Modernisation of an 80-year-old hydropower station Clover Power Station has been generating renewable energy in Victoria's Kiewa Valley since 1945. As the oldest station in the Kiewa Scheme, it has served the grid for eight decades. AGL's $50 million modernisation program set out to install new turbines, generators, and inlet valves, extending the station's operational life and increasing its performance. The engineering challenge was significant: retrofitting modern equipment into a reinforced concrete structure built before current codes existed. KUSCH was engaged to deliver the structural engineering across the full program, working through the complexity of an 80-year-old asset...

At KUSCH, we know that passions outside of work make our team sharper, more curious, and more creative. We believe great engineering starts with great people, and great people have lives that venture beyond design. We want to celebrate these double lives, the ones that remind us that when engineers stay balanced, they build better. This month, meet Michael Dayment, structural engineer by day and Senior Ski Patroller at Falls Creek Ski Resort outside of KUSCH. Balancing the Mountain and the Office Michael’s connection to the alpine world started early. He grew up in the snow, and by the time he was at...

Our Director Martin Kusz recently travelled to Tokyo to present at the 2026 SPONSE Workshop - an international forum on the seismic performance of non-structural elements - sharing our latest research into the dynamic design of building services for earthquake loads. Here's a look at the problem we're trying to solve, and how we're applying structural dynamics to improve both the performance and economy of our seismic designs. The Blind Spot in Traditional Seismic Design In Australia, the NCC requires that all non-structural building elements are designed and installed for the seismic loads specified in AS 1170.4. To do this, engineers typically design...

At KUSCH, we believe great engineering starts with great people - and great people have lives that venture beyond design. Our team brings their whole selves to work, and that means bringing passions, pursuits, and “other lives” that make them sharper, more curious, and more creative. We want to celebrate those double lives - the ones that remind us that when engineers stay balanced, they build better. This month, meet Nick Martin, our structural engineer by day, ‘Tech Editor’ for Flow Mountain Bike by…also day... Between engineering projects and deadlines, Nick spends part of each week immersed in the world of...

Real project gains from early structural planning of building services Every building project has its own unique constraints, challenges, and pressures, yet they all share the same core objectives: deliver a building that complies with the NCC and project goals, on time and within budget. Planning plays a critical role in project outcomes. The MacLeamy Curve highlights that the influence of decisions on cost, performance, and final results is greatest at the very beginning of a project, long before construction starts. This holds true for the engineering of non-structural elements (NSEs: mechanical, electrical, hydraulic & fire systems, ceilings, and partitions). While consultants focus...

When we talk about iconic buildings, the conversation often begins with architecture. Form, scale, and visual identity draw attention. But lasting landmarks are remembered for more than their appearance.

Hollowcore concrete slabs offer real benefits to builders and developers - speed, efficiency, and reduced weight. But when building services contractors arrive to install ductwork, cable trays or pipework, those same slabs can quickly become a problem.