Steensen Varming

Steensen Varming

Company type	Private
Industry	Engineering consultancy
Founded	1933
Founder	Niels Steensen, Jørgen Varming
Headquarters	Copenhagen , Denmark
Area served	Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia
Products	Engineering consulting services (civil, structural, building services)

Steensen Varming is a Danish engineering consultancy with its main office located in Copenhagen, Denmark.

History

The company was established in 1933 by Niels Steensen and Jørgen Varming, initially focusing on civil, structural, and building services engineering disciplines. It grew internationally by opening branches in Ireland (1947), the United Kingdom (1957), and Australia (1973).

Jørgen Varming, whose father was architect Kristoffer Varming, pursued his engineering education at the University of Newcastle.

Sydney Opera House

In 1957, Danish architect Jørn Utzon appointed Steensen Varming as the mechanical consulting engineers for the Sydney Opera House. The Australian division, under the leadership of partner Vagn Prestmark, was officially founded in 1973. Prior to this engagement, Steensen Varming had already established a strong presence in Europe with offices in Copenhagen, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Belfast, employing more than 500 professionals by 1973.

Following Utzon’s departure in 1966, Steensen Varming maintained their role as mechanical consultants, overseeing design, documentation, contract management, and on-site supervision for all mechanical, hydraulic, and fire safety installations.

Their standout achievement was the development of a water-based heat pump system for climate control. To preserve the Opera House’s visual integrity, conventional cooling towers or boiler stacks were dismissed. Instead, the firm engineered a system that utilized seawater from Sydney Harbour as a cooling medium. Water is drawn from Circular Quay through three pumps, filtered, circulated through heat exchangers linked to centrifugal chillers and heat pumps, and then returned to the harbor.

This groundbreaking approach combined operational efficiency with architectural preservation and cost savings. The success of this initiative significantly boosted Steensen Varming’s profile and secured additional projects throughout Australia.

The seawater heat rejection technology designed by Steensen Varming was highlighted in the National Geographic/BBC documentary Engineering Connections, presented by Richard Hammond and broadcast in Australia on 13 March 2010. Steensen Varming served as the technical advisor for this production.

Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre

Steensen Varming became the first Australian company to earn an Award of Excellence from the International Association of Lighting Designers for their lighting design at Sydney’s Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre. Completed in 2008, this project was among the final works of architect Harry Seidler.

The Mint, Historic Houses Trust Australia

The refurbishment of the Sydney Mint—recognized as one of 30 transformative projects shaping the built environment since 1978—demonstrates Steensen Varming's expertise in integrating building services systems to deliver a contemporary and efficient headquarters while respecting the site’s heritage and archaeological significance.