BSG Commercial transformed a cluster of small food tenancies into a large‑format Reject Shop and upgraded the surrounding mall and eatery zone at Lutwyche, delivering complex base build and external works in a live retail environment.
The Reject Shop – Landlord & Mall Upgrade Works, Lutwyche
Scope of work
HomeCo engaged BSG to consolidate four existing food tenancies (including a coffee shop, restaurant and sushi train) into a single large‑format retail box for The Reject Shop, and then extend the upgrade into the external façade and adjoining mall/eatery area.
Internally, BSG made the existing tenancies redundant, reconfigured all base build services for the new open‑plan layout, undertook extensive engineered floor screeding, built new tenancy walls, and delivered lighting, floor coverings, joinery and painting.
Externally, BSG removed the old balustrading and constructed a new façade facing a busy street, including structural steel, cladding, glazing and an engineered external deck brought up to KPA compliance. Following the handover of the base build to The Reject Shop, BSG’s scope expanded to remove the old feature ceiling and tiles and construct a new mall and eatery zone outside the store.
Works Included
Redundancy and strip‑out of four existing food tenancies
Reconfiguration of base build services (electrical, fire, plumbing, mechanical) for a large‑format layout
Engineered screed installation across approx. 500m² of retail floor
Construction of internal tenancy walls, lighting and floor coverings
Joinery and full internal repaint
External façade works: removal of balustrading, new structural steel and cladding
New external glazing and an engineered external deck to meet KPA compliance
Removal of existing mall feature ceiling and tiles
Construction of a new mall and eatery zone outside The Reject Shop
FIT-OUT/WORK SPECIFICATIONS
| Client | Location | Size | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomeCo | Lutwyche, QLD | Approx. $1.5 million |
CHALLENGES
The existing tenancies and surrounding structure were heavily configured for multiple small food operators, with layered services and complex pre‑existing conditions that only became fully visible once demolition commenced.
BSG had to:
- Screed roughly 500m² of floor to achieve acceptable levels for new floor finishes across the large retail area
- Reconfigure base build services originally set up for several smaller food tenancies to suit a single open‑plan retailer
- Engage and work closely with a mechanical engineer to validate that existing plant could be reused and upgraded appropriately, rather than fully replaced
- Deliver both internal and external works on a busy street and within a live shopping centre where surrounding tenants above and below needed to keep trading
- Manage noise and disruption by pushing noisy and disruptive activities into out‑of‑hours windows
Scope also evolved significantly, with additional external and mall works added after the initial base build handover.
OUTCOME AND IMPACT
BSG turned a dated group of food outlets and a challenging external edge into a modern, large‑format Reject Shop tenancy with an upgraded mall and eatery zone, delivered in a live centre where all other tenants kept trading.
The client gained:
- A new, attractive large‑format tenancy to draw additional foot traffic to the centre
- A significantly uplifted mall and eatery zone outside the store
- A compliant, high‑performing and visually transformed space compared to the original configuration
Despite the evolving scope, hidden conditions and design changes, BSG kept the project moving through common‑sense staging, out‑of‑hours work and close coordination with consultants and centre management, reinforcing its capability for complex, no‑drama live‑environment tenancy conversions.
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS
BSG’s success on this job came from practical, on‑the‑go problem solving and methodical staging in a very constrained, live environment.
Key wins included:
- Managing extensive engineered floor screeding over a large area to achieve a high‑quality substrate for new floor coverings
- Working with the mechanical engineer to confirm a reconfigured solution that made smart use of existing infrastructure, rather than defaulting to full upgrade
- Engineering and delivering a new external deck solution when the initial concept was not practical, with BSG proposing an alternative approach that still met KPA compliance
- Scheduling noisy and disruptive works out of hours and using earlier starts where needed to protect day‑to‑day trade and keep tenants above and below comfortable with the program
Trades visiting the site later in the project commented on the scale of the transformation: from a cluster of older food tenancies to a bright, open large‑format store with an upgraded mall and eatery frontage.