There are a lot of ways to measure a successful project. Timelines met, budgets met or a building that does exactly what it was designed to do. But perhaps the clearest signal that a job went well is this, the client calls again.
That’s exactly what happened with Varley Group, a local engineering and manufacturing business operating on a national scale. When they first came to GWH, the brief was an extension to an existing shed, including structure to support a new overhead crane. It was a focused scope, and we got it done. Then they came back. This time, the brief was bigger, a full knock down and a design and construct rebuild.
GWH managed the entire process from full design across architectural, civil, hydraulic, and structural, through to all authority approvals including Hunter Water, Development Application, and Construction Certificate. Varley Group had one team to deal with, from concept to handover. The result is a 1,445sqm purpose-built industrial workshop and fabrication and assembly facility with 65sqm of future office space and a 233sqm loading dock awning. With 8 metres of clearance to the eaves, a 5-tonne overhead crane capacity, and three-phase electrical fit-out throughout, the building is set up for the demands of a national engineering operation. Three automatic roller shutters at container height and one larger shutter at 4.8m wide by 6m high serve the loading dock. LED hi-bay lighting runs through the workshop and awning, three 250amp DBs power the facility, and a three-coat epoxy coating covers both the workshop floor and future office space.
The structure is built to last. A reinforced footing beam one metre wide and 0.6 metres deep runs the full perimeter of the building, office, and loading bay. Dato panel and Colorbond wall construction, Colorbond roofing with insulation blanket, Alsynite skylights, and a ridge vent running the full length of the building complete the envelope. A tunnel trench stormwater infiltration system manages site drainage for the long term. Construction was completed in 4.5 months.
For GWH, a repeat client is the kind of outcome we build everything around. It’s proof that the first job earned the trust to be asked back for the next one. For Varley Group, returning to GWH meant working with a team that already understood their operations, their standards, and what it takes to build for real industrial use. The learning curve is shorter. The brief is clearer. And the confidence to take on a more complex project together is already there.
The first brief opened the door. The second brief walked through it. We’re proud to have delivered both.
