Five Guys
A multi-site rollout adapting an international hospitality model to Australian standards within existing building constraints.
Client:
Five Guys
Location:
NSW • VIC
Status:
Completed
Sector:
Hospitality
Video Credit:
COOOP
Overview
Delivering Five Guys Restaurants in Australia
Five Guys is an international fast-casual restaurant brand known for its highly standardised kitchen and production model. Founded in 1986 in Arlington, Virginia, the brand has expanded to more than 1,900 locations worldwide.
Known for its focus on quality and consistency, the brand has attracted a global following. When asked about his favourite American fast-food chain, Ed Sheeran said, “if it’s an American fast food chain around the world, I’d usually go Five Guys.”
BSE has partnered with Five Guys since its first Australian location in Penrith, supporting the delivery of multiple restaurants across New South Wales and Victoria, including Sydney CBD, Martin Place, Southbank, and QV Melbourne. Each site required alignment with Five Guys’ global operational model while responding to local regulatory requirements and existing building conditions.
Our Role
Building Services Design for a High-Demand Hospitality Model
BSE delivered mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and fire protection design, documentation, and coordination across all locations.
A key requirement was adapting Five Guys’ established international design standards to suit the Australian regulatory and construction environment. This involved detailed assessment of existing building services and infrastructure to ensure compliance with the National Construction Code and relevant Australian Standards.
The Five Guys operational model places higher-than-typical demands on building services systems. With all food prepared fresh to order and no reliance on freezers or microwaves, kitchens require increased power, ventilation, and hydraulic capacity. BSE undertook detailed calculations and infrastructure assessments to ensure each site could accommodate these requirements within existing building constraints.
Where required, alternative solutions were developed to address non-compliant fire services, enabling compliance without extensive base building modifications.
Outcomes
Hospitality Environments Aligned with Global Standards and Local Requirements
The completed restaurants support Five Guys’ entry and expansion into the Australian market, delivering venues that align with the brand’s global operational model while meeting local compliance requirements.
Building services solutions were tailored to each site, accommodating increased service demands and existing base building constraints to support reliable day-to-day operation.
“We are delighted to have assisted in bringing Five Guys to Australia. Every site and project is uniquely challenging. As a team we have overcome the barriers to maintain the streamlined production and delivery model that Five Guys is known for around the world. Big thanks to the BSE services engineering team for successfully collaborating with COOOP.Co Architecture. Thanks again to Five Guys for having us on board.”
— Solomon Aluague, Associate – Mechanical NSW
Initial projects informed subsequent rollouts, supporting consistency in delivery and improving efficiency across later locations.
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