Superheat brings Tasmanian expertise to Cradle Mountain’s alpine welcome

At Cradle Mountain, a warm welcome takes more than striking architecture. Superheat’s work on the visitor centre shows how Tasmania’s heating and cooling expertise supports the buildings that welcome people to the state’s best-known destinations.

Designed by Cumulus Studio, the centre combines a rugged, angular exterior with a timber-lined interior. Completed in 2020, it forms part of the gateway to Cradle Mountain, accommodating visitors whose numbers change substantially between quiet periods and peak arrivals. Behind that architectural experience sits a demanding mechanical services brief.

Superheat delivered a package valued at under $400,000, covering heat recovery ducted air conditioning, CO₂-controlled fresh air ventilation and hydronic floor heating. The installation brought together Mitsubishi Electric equipment and a Reliable Controls building management system. That figure relates to Superheat’s package within the wider visitor-centre development.

The combination responds to practical alpine challenges: cold weather, snowfall and changing demand inside the building. CO₂-controlled ventilation responds to the need for fresh air, while hydronic heating circulates heated water beneath the floor. Ducted air conditioning provides supplementary heating and seasonal cooling.

Mitsubishi Electric’s project case study identifies Superheat as the HVAC contractor and describes underfloor heating serving approximately 600 square metres across the visitor centre’s store, café and administration rooms. Outdoor units were fitted with snow hoods, while the floor-heating system was integrated with building controls to respond to building demand and outside conditions. The brief also required indoor units and ductwork to remain out of sight.

COVA provided the specialist mechanical design for the hydronic heating and heat recovery air conditioning. Superheat’s installation work helped turn that design into the services behind the visitor experience.

Cradle Mountain is one example of Superheat’s broader Tasmanian portfolio, which also includes King Island Hospital and Glenara Lakes in Launceston. With its head office in Moonah and a Launceston branch, the business provides installation, repairs and maintenance across the state.

For businesses planning their next project, it is a concrete demonstration of Superheat’s capability: bringing heating, cooling, ventilation and controls together around the needs of a particular building and its users.

Images: Cumulus Studio project gallery. Project photography credited to Anjie Blair, Rob Burnett, Jesse Hunniford and Samuel Shelley.