Construction Zone

Constructing a Fast Moving and Successful Future

Fast-Track Fit-Out Specialists with a Personal Touch

In the high-velocity world of interior construction and fit-outs, speed often comes at the expense of nuance. For Melbourne-based Construction Zone Commercial Interiors, the opposite is true. The company has built a national reputation for delivering complex, fast-paced projects while maintaining a deeply personal, relationship-driven approach that keeps clients coming back again and again.

Founded in 2003 as part of a combined design and construction business, Construction Zone has evolved into a specialist interior construction firm with a sister company, Zone Design, operating in parallel. Together, they offer a seamless concept-to-completion service – or can plug into external design and delivery teams – depending on what best serves the project and client.

“We started as a design and construction business,” recalls Director Cavin Chait. “Over time, we made a strategic decision to split the two components. That allowed the design team to work with other contractors and the construction team to work with other architects and designers. You just get more knowledge in the industry that way – more ideas, best-practice policies, and smarter ways of delivering projects.”

Today, Construction Zone operates across every Australian state, with projects ranging from compact quick-service restaurant (QSR) rollouts to large-format entertainment venues and workplace interiors. Growth has been steady and deliberate, and the business now turns over approximately $35 million annually, with financial performance that outpaces many much larger firms.

Built for a Fast-Paced Industry

If traditional tier-one construction is a marathon, Construction Zone’s world is more of a sprint. The company specialises in internal fit-outs and refurbishments where timeframes are measured in weeks, not years.

“In the larger construction game, it’s quite a slow process,” explains Leigh Gathercole, who was brought into the business as general manager to spearhead the construction side after years of experience on major high-rise and tier-one projects. “Just getting a planning permit can take six months to a year. Our clients want projects delivered in six to fifteen weeks. It’s fast, high-paced, and not everybody is suited to it.”

That speed shapes everything: the way project managers are resourced, the way suppliers are engaged, and the way decisions are made. There’s simply no room for long delays appointing consultants or waiting weeks on trade pricing.

“Everything’s got to be done chop-chop,” Chait says. “You have to be flexible, move quickly, and still keep quality front and centre. Leigh’s come in and done exceptionally well in that environment.”

Construction Zone’s construction team includes four project managers and four contract administrators, supported by two full-time estimators and shareholders who remain deeply involved in day-to-day operations. Another group of 10–30 contractors is typically active on site at any given time, depending on workload.

Flagship Projects in Entertainment and Retail

While Construction Zone works across retail, hospitality, workplace, and large-format interiors, its sweet spot is high-impact, brand-driven environments – the kinds of spaces where customers form immediate impressions and operators can’t afford downtime.

One current standout is a flagship entertainment facility in Melbourne’s CBD for The Entertainment and Education Group (TEEG). Located on the lower ground floor of a major Collins Street centre, the 3,500-square-metre venue combines bowling, dancing, digital arcade experiences, dining, and bar areas into a single, immersive destination.

“It’s a very bougie, luxe facility, and it’s right in the heart of Melbourne’s finance and legal precinct,” Gathercole says. “You’ve got investment bankers, finance houses, and major law firms all around. The idea is to create a place where they can go after work for corporate events, drinks, and entertainment.”

The central CBD location brings its own complexity, from constrained access to the challenges of moving materials and trades through a busy, multi-tenanted building. It’s also Construction Zone’s highest-value project to date, reinforcing its ability to manage large-scale, fast-tracked builds without sacrificing quality.

Beyond entertainment, the company maintains deep relationships with some of the biggest names in fast food and QSR. Construction Zone and Zone Design collectively work with around 90 percent of Australia’s major fast-food retail brands, including McDonald’s, Hungry Jacks, Nando’s, El Jannah, Schnitz, Guzman Y Gomez, Oporto, Red Rooster and more recently, Wendy’s Australia, operated by the Flynn Group.

“The last few years have been all about food retail,” Chait notes. “Drive-through sites have been a huge focus since COVID, and there’s a premium on getting those right. But the industry is cyclical. When that tails off, our workplace interiors and retail projects come into play. We’re fortunate to be diversified across those sectors.” Current retail brands include inter alia Timezone, Zone Bowling, Adidas, Koko Black, Kate Spade, Coach, Petbarn and Ama Collision Centres

The design side is working country wide with big box retailer Super Cheap Retail Group on their BCF (Boating, Camping, Fishing) and SCA (Super Cheap Auto) brands.

Integrated Manufacturing and Smart Capital Investment

Underpinning Construction Zone’s fit-out capabilities is a dedicated joinery manufacturing facility located off-site from the company’s main Melbourne office. The 700-square-metre plant houses high-end machinery, including CNC equipment, and a team of five to seven specialists focused on cutting, assembling, and dispatching bespoke joinery.

“It’s become a really important extension of what we do,” says Gathercole. “So much of our work involves high-quality joinery, and having that in-house gives us control over quality, timing, and logistics.”

The factory is run by an experienced factory manager, with trucks on the road ensuring efficient delivery across project sites. Looking ahead, the business is actively considering expanding the joinery operation to increase capacity and take more work in-house.

Capital investment is a recurring theme, not just in plant and equipment but also in systems and people. Construction Zone prides itself on strong financial management and a conservative, sustainable approach to growth.

“Our external accountants – one of the top four firms in Australia – have told us that the net profit we achieve on our turnover is higher than some of their clients turning over $100 million,” Chait shares. “At that scale, margins are razor thin. We can be slightly higher, while still being very competitive, and that gives us a better result at the end of the day.”

The company occupies around 380 square metres of office space under a recently renewed lease, and the leadership team is deliberately cautious about rapid expansion. Modest staff growth of 10–15 percent is on the table over the next few years, but there is no rush to become a significantly larger organisation.

“Do we want to get real big? Probably not,” Gathercole admits. “We’re at a good size. The question is whether we add another project manager and coordinator when things are hectic, knowing the market can ease in three months. For now, we’re more focused on motivating the team, rewarding high performance, and delivering great outcomes so our clients stay with us.”

A Diverse, Family-Oriented Culture

Behind Construction Zone’s delivery capability is a company culture that feels more like an extended family than a corporate machine. The combined construction and design businesses bring together roughly 15–20 office-based staff on the construction side and around 20 interior architects, interior designers, architects and brand specialists on the design side. The workforce is notably diverse, with origins from around 20 different countries.

“It reflects the multi-ethnic nature of Australia,” Chait says. “We’ve got people whose roots are Chinese, Vietnamese, South African, New Zealand, Colombian, Ukrainian, and many others. That diversity brings different ways of thinking and adds a lot to our culture.”

The workplace balances structure with flexibility. Construction Zone and Zone Design come together monthly for themed social events – from Easter and the Australian Grand Prix to uniquely Australian themes.

Four times a year, the team holds a multicultural food day where employees bring dishes from their country of origin or cultural background. It’s a chance to share more than just a meal.

“It’s fun, but it’s also educational,” says Gathercole. “People learn about each other’s heritage and what ‘home’ tastes like. We’re small enough to be informal, but everyone understands there’s a serious side to the business as well.”

Partnerships, Supply Chain, and a 200-Plus Supplier Network

In an industry where the end product is only as strong as the weakest subcontractor, Construction Zone has invested heavily in building a resilient, trusted supply chain.

Across Australia, the company works with an estimated 200 to 500 suppliers and subcontractors, covering everything from joinery, carpentry, and metalwork to electrical, stone, and specialised trades. Many of these relationships stretch back years.

“It’s constant communication and constant feedback,” Gathercole explains. “Those partners represent us in front of our clients. Their success is our success. When they consistently deliver on time and to the standard our clients expect, we make sure to reward that loyalty with ongoing work.”

At the same time, the company is careful not to become overly reliant on a single contractor – even a high-performing one. Competitive tendering remains an important discipline, and Construction Zone intentionally rotates opportunities so that new firms can build familiarity with key brand standards and scopes.

“You might have an electrical contractor who knows a particular client inside out,” Gathercole says.

“They win many tenders because there’s no reinvention required. But if you never give others a chance, they stop pricing altogether. We need flexibility and agility. That means having several capable partners ready when you suddenly have four or five projects to deliver for the same brand.”

Navigating Rising Costs, Labour Constraints, and Regulation

Like the rest of the construction sector, Construction Zone has had to navigate a volatile environment in recent years. Post-COVID supply disruptions pushed material costs up by 20–25 percent, forcing difficult conversations with clients.

“When you price a project at 25 percent more than it cost two years earlier, clients naturally ask why,” Chait notes. “Our answer was, ‘Do you read the newspaper?’ It’s been a global issue. Those costs have eased a bit, but the focus now is on value engineering and cost management so clients still feel they’re getting strong value.”

Labour availability is another headwind. While conditions have improved, the looming Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games are already pulling trades and construction expertise toward Queensland, where major stadium and infrastructure projects will be ramping up in the years ahead. That migration puts pressure on labour supply in Victoria and other states.

Regulation remains a longstanding challenge as well. Approvals and permit processes can still be slow, a contrast to the rapid delivery windows clients now expect once projects get the green light.

“Labour, material costs, and expertise – those are the constraints that can hold you back,” Gathercole says. “The demand is there, but the industry has to keep finding smarter ways to deliver.”

The Construction Zone Difference: Relationships and a Personal Approach

For all the sophistication in Construction Zone’s project management, manufacturing, and financial controls, Chait is quick to point out that most construction and design firms ultimately do similar work.

“At the end of the day, construction companies, shopfitting companies, architecture and design companies – we all kind of do the same thing,” he reflects. “We’re all trying to deliver the best outcome we can, on time and on budget. So what really differentiates us?”

For Construction Zone, the answer is simple: relationships.

“We like to pick up the phone instead of just emailing,” Hayden Hamuaha, Zone Designs, design manager of 11 years contributes. “In talking to people, you learn what’s going on in the industry, who’s doing what, and you build rapport. We’re not trying to be everyone’s best friend, but we do want that connection where, when a client thinks ‘new project,’ Construction Zone or Zone Design is front of mind.”

That relationship mindset filters down into the small details the leadership team coaches into its project managers and brand managers – such as never sending a large project variation on a Friday afternoon.

“Rather call them during the week, explain what’s coming, give them time to absorb and understand it,” Gathercole  says. “Without the relationship, you don’t have the sale. With it, you’ve earned the right to keep working together.”

It’s that personalised approach – layered over deep experience in a fast-paced sector, a diverse and engaged workforce, strong supply chain partnerships, and disciplined capital investment – that keeps Construction Zone well-positioned in a dynamic Australian construction landscape.

“We don’t need to be the biggest,” Chait concludes. “We just want to be the team our clients trust to get it done – quickly, properly, and with a human touch.”

AT A GLANCE

Who: Construction Zone

What: A leading construction company specializing in fast moving construction projects focused on the client’s needs

Where: Melbourne, Australia

Website: www.constructionzone.com.au

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