A builder typically joins the project once design and approvals are already done. While the terms are interchangeable and we do act as a builder as well at times, as your Delivery Partner, Asset Building Systems is involved from planning and feasibility through design, approvals, procurement and construction — under one contract and one accountable team, rather than being handed a finished design after the important decisions are already locked in.
PDC (Planning, Design & Construction) is the right model when your project needs to go through council — we run planning, design and approvals, then carry the same project into construction with full continuity. EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) suits projects where the brief and scope are already defined, and the priority is efficient, well-managed execution from engineering through to completion. We’ll recommend the right model for your project on the first call.
Almost certainly, yes. Industrial and commercial buildings sit well outside exempt development thresholds. Your project will go through either a CDC (private certifier, faster, only if fully compliant) or a DA/CC (council assessment, then Construction Certificate). Which one applies depends on zoning, floor space, height, setbacks, and site constraints like flooding, bushfire and heritage. We work out the right pathway early, before design money is spent, and manage the whole process on your behalf.
Approvals are usually the bigger variable, not construction. A CDC pathway typically moves faster than a DA/CC, which can take considerably longer depending on the council and site complexity. Construction time then depends on size and scope. We’ll give you a realistic program based on your actual site and pathway, not a best-case estimate.
No genuine builder can honestly promise a fixed number before a project has been through design and council — construction is too complex, and site conditions and approval requirements only fully reveal themselves as the project progresses. What we do provide is a single contract, one accountable party, and a price that’s transparent and firmed up in stages as the project moves through design and approvals — so you’re never caught out by an unexplained number at the end.
In practice the terms overlap. “Industrial shed” usually implies a working building — workshop, manufacturing, processing, plant maintenance. “Warehouse” implies storage and distribution. They’re generally the same family of building structurally, but the fit-out differs: warehouses are designed around racking, aisle widths and dock access; industrial sheds are designed around machinery, services, floor loading and workflow.
Yes. Site conditions get assessed at feasibility stage so they’re priced in, not discovered later. We regularly deal with rock, fill, contamination, existing structures needing demolition, and live operational sites.
Yes. Civil works, earthworks, drainage, footings and slab all sit within our scope, coordinated under the same contract. You don’t need to run a separate arrangement with a concreter.
Yes, we can – we coordinate the full path from design through fabrication, supply and installation — drawing on our own capability as an in-house fabricator, as well as a trusted network of fabricators and suppliers, matched to what each project needs. The result you get is the same either way: a single point of accountability for the finished structure.
Yes. Integrated offices, showrooms, mezzanine floors, staff amenities, wash-down bays and full fit-outs are routine inclusions in our delivered projects.
Structure alone typically runs $600–$900/m². Add slab and basic electrical and you’re at $900–$1,200/m². A fully delivered design-and-construct build generally sits between $1,300 and $1,800/m². Height, structure type, location, site conditions and inclusions all move that number — talk to us early and we’ll give you a realistic range for your project.
Yes — it’s one of our specialties. We work on live mine sites, power stations, water treatment plants and schools, with the WHS systems, inductions, clearances and methodology those environments demand.
No — NSW is where we focus, and it’s where our delivery network, local council relationships and site experience are strongest. Our core coverage is the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong corridor, alongside regional and remote NSW.
Yes – we have published case studies of previous projects here – https://assetbuilding.com.au/case-studies/Â
We have multiple locations;
- 1. Griffith NSW, where our family-owned business began, with offices and a fabrication workshopÂ
- 2. We have offices in Sydney NSW
- 3. And an Operations centre in Gosford NSW
Our buildings are completely custom – and it depends on what you need. We can build 5m bays, 8m bays, 9m bays, whatever you need. The reason for bay sizing differs greatly, for example:
- 1. What size roller doors you need to fit between the columns
- 2. Whether the bays need to be certain sizes to fit around other site requirements (i.e. so footings aren’t in a certain spot etc)
- 3. Efficiency; while less bays means less footings, the thickness of the steel might need to increase to support the engineering, so this has to be calculated per job.Â
Advantages of tilt panels
- 1. Security. Solid concrete walls are far harder to break through than sheet steel, which makes them well suited to high-value stock, equipment and after-hours sites.
- 2. Temperature stability. Concrete’s thermal mass absorbs heat during the day and releases it slowly, keeping the inside cooler in summer and more stable year-round. For higher insulation ratings, insulation can be added to the panels.
- 3. Fire rating near boundaries. When a building sits close to a boundary (typically within 3 metres), the building code usually requires a fire-rated wall, and tilt panels are the standard way to achieve this. The only real alternatives are moving the building further from the boundary, which usually means reducing its size. Some sites next to a road or waterway may be exempt, and we’ll confirm this during planning.
- 4. Durability and impact resistance. Concrete handles knocks from forklifts, trucks and machinery that would dent or puncture steel sheeting.
- 5. Low maintenance. Panels need no protective coatings to stay weatherproof, and they won’t corrode like steel can in coastal or harsh environments.
- 6. Acoustic performance. Concrete blocks far more noise than steel, which helps with noisy operations, neighbours, or residential zones where council may set noise limits.
- 7. Weather and pest resistance. Concrete stands up to high winds and severe storms and is virtually impenetrable to rodents and insects.
- 8. Possible insurance benefits. Fire resistance and security can lower premiums with some insurers, so it’s worth checking with yours.
Disadvantages of tilt panels
- 1. Higher upfront cost. See the cost section below.
- 2. Heavier engineering. Panels need stronger footings and larger cranes, which adds to civil and installation costs.
- 3. Harder to change later. Adding a roller door, window or extension means cutting concrete, whereas steel cladding can be easily removed and reconfigured.
- 4. Site space and weather. Panels are cast on site or made off-site and trucked in, so the site needs room for casting or crane access. Casting also depends on suitable curing weather.
- 5. Less efficient for small buildings. The fixed costs of casting and craning are spread over less wall area, so smaller buildings pay more per square metre.
Cost
As a rough guide, precast concrete walls add about $225–$400 per m² of wall compared with steel cladding (ex GST). To work out your wall area, use (length × 2 + width × 2) × wall height. A common approach is a hybrid: tilt panels only on the boundary walls or the lower section of the walls, with steel cladding above and elsewhere. This gives you fire compliance and security where they’re needed while keeping costs down.
To work out options / pricing on your own shed, a rough cost guide can be obtained using our tool here: Cost of Constructing a Warehouse | Asset Building Systems