Fresh&SaveFoodWarehouse

The award winning new Fresh & Save Food Warehouse at Maryborough was a design and construct project completed by Hutchinson Builders in March 2017. In August the Master Builders Association of Queensland awarded it the prestigious Project of the Year for the Wide Bay Burnett region along with a commendation for Retail Facilities.

The project included the complete strip out and refurbishment of an existing 3500m² supermarket. The existing complex was built in the 1970s with extremely limited as built information and data available, making investigation works crucial to ensure that limited design alterations were required during the build, and that the refurbishment could be delivered within the program and budget constraints of the project.

The demolition aspect of works included the removal of all existing services, old floor vinyl, grid ceiling, internal brick walls, and old tiled/ concrete floors in food preparation and butchery areas before the construction works could commence. New mechanical and electrical services were then installed to service the floor area, including brand new roof mounted air conditioning systems and switchboards. New cold rooms and bakery equipment were installed back of house to service the centre. The existing concrete floor was also ground, polished and sealed bringing it back to its former glory. All new joinery and fit out items were custom Australian made products, with a very smart and neat finish to the designers’ and manufacturers’ credit. New insulation had to be installed to the underside of existing purlins in order to meet modern energy efficiency requirements, services within the ceiling space were then left exposed meaning neat and tidy installation was crucial for shopping centre aesthetics and appearance for the end user.

Externally Hutchinson Builders undertook the reconfiguration and face-lift of the existing centre front entrance, including a new façade, render and fresh coat of paint. During works the entry had to be maintained open for shoppers to pass through during business hours, meaning an intricate gantry system was installed as not to interfere with foot traffic passing through and allow works to continue.

The project was completed on programme and budget, with the opening day deemed a huge success by all parties involved in the project.