BSG Commercial converted a former Lone Star restaurant into a new Hungry Jack’s at East Maitland, delivering a full commercial building project under tight timeframes and challenging winter conditions while still meeting the client’s opening dates.
Hungry Jack’s – Commercial Building Conversion, East Maitland
Scope of work
Hungry Jack’s engaged BSG to deliver a full commercial building conversion at the corner of Chelmsford Drive and New England Highway, East Maitland. The tenancy was vacant, allowing BSG to focus purely on transforming the existing restaurant into a new‑format Hungry Jack’s within a short program.
The brief centred on completing all base building and fit‑for‑purpose works, coordinating trades, and handing over a high‑quality, compliant restaurant ready for Hungry Jack’s to commence trade on a fixed opening date.
Works Included
Conversion of a former Lone Star restaurant into a new Hungry Jack’s
Internal building works and tenancy reconfiguration
Wet‑area preparation including sand–cement screeds and waterproofing
Remediation of existing roof leaks to ensure a watertight tenancy
Coordination of structural changes to suit new kitchen equipment (including hood support modifications)
Final defects, finishing and handover ready for Hungry Jack’s opening
FIT-OUT/WORK SPECIFICATIONS
| Client | Location | Size | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungry Jack’s | East Maitland, NSW (corner of Chelmsford Drive and New England Highway) | Just under $2 million | Mid‑February to Late July, 2026 |
CHALLENGES
The project team faced a combination of project pressure, winter weather and site security issues.
Cold, wet weather was a major factor. Existing roof leaks had to be addressed early to keep the tenancy watertight, and very low overnight temperatures meant key wet trades such as sand–cement screeds and waterproofing took significantly longer to cure, with screeds at risk of freezing and holding moisture.
In addition, the site experienced thefts during the project, with vandals cutting electrical cables and forcing re‑rough‑in works that pushed the program back by a couple of weeks.
A late design issue also emerged when one of the kitchen hoods arrived oversized, requiring an engineer to design a new roof support so the roof could be cut and the correct hood installed without compromising structure.
OUTCOME AND IMPACT
Despite winter weather, roof leaks, theft‑related delays and late equipment changes, BSG handed over the Hungry Jack’s East Maitland project in late July, meeting the client’s required opening date and delivering a high‑quality build.
Hungry Jack’s managers on site commented that, given the condition of the building at the start and the tight timeframe, they did not expect the project to be handed over when it was, and were very pleased with both the timing and the quality of the finished restaurant.
The project demonstrated BSG’s ability to:
- Hit fixed target dates on a near‑$2m commercial conversion
- Manage cold‑weather construction risks on critical wet trades
- Respond quickly to security incidents and design changes without losing control of the program
- Work side by side with the client towards the end of the project, allowing their team on site to start fit‑off while BSG completed remaining works and defects
For Hungry Jack’s, the result was a smooth, on‑time opening in a fully converted, well‑finished restaurant, reinforcing BSG’s reputation for no‑drama delivery on time‑critical commercial building projects.
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS
BSG maintained momentum and protected the opening date through a mix of careful planning, on‑the‑spot problem solving and practical controls on site.
Key wins included:
- Cold‑weather methodology: Using fans and controlled airflow across the tenancy to help screeds and waterproofing cure in very low temperatures, and tightly managing access so no one walked on wet screeds or membranes, protecting warranties and avoiding rework.
- Program‑driven planning: Weekly re‑project meetings between site and office teams to revise the sequence, keep the job aligned to target dates and make up time where possible.
- Security response: Erecting hoardings around openings and electrical components after the vandalism incidents to secure the site and prevent repeat damage to services.
- Engineering coordination: Engaging an engineer to design a new roof support when the kitchen hood arrived oversize, allowing BSG to keep working in other areas while the solution was developed, then complete the hood installation within the allowed timeframe.