CLIENT Roberts Co
LOCATION Carlingford/ Cumberland, NSW
THE SITUATION
In late 2023, two schools in Sydney’s northwest began a significant transformation under the NSW Government’s commitment to delivering world class public education.
The goal was clear – replace ageing facilities with modern, flexible learning environments built for the next generation.
At Carlingford West Public School, the upgrade required new flexible classrooms, a new hall, library, multipurpose play court, canteen and refurbished staff and administration areas.
At Cumberland High School, the scope extended further — new flexible classrooms including specialist woodworking and visual arts spaces, a new multipurpose hall, sport and performance spaces, library, multipurpose play courts, canteen and refurbished staff and administration facilities.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Roberts Co engaged Business Interiors as its single-source furniture procurement partner, taking ownership of the full process from initial specification through to supply, delivery and final installation. Without partnering with Business Interiors, Roberts Co were looking at sourcing furniture from more than 20 individual vendors. Consolidating this under one partner eliminated that complexity, reduced risk and gave Roberts Co a single point of accountability from day one.
More than 10,000 furniture items needed to be procured, coordinated and installed across two live school campuses within a 3-4 month window. This required tight stakeholder alignment between Roberts Co, Schools Infrastructure NSW (SINSW), Cumberland High School and Carlingford West Public School, all while keeping disruption to school operations to an absolute minimum. With both schools needing to be open and operational by the start of the new school term, there was no margin for error.
THE SOLUTION
Business Interiors delivered an end-to-end solution covering specification, procurement, logistics and installation — adapting at every stage as project requirements evolved. The foundation was nearly two years of pre-project consultation with Roberts Co and SINSW, ensuring the furniture specification was fit for purpose, aligned to budget and ready to execute from day one.
The scope extended well beyond standard classroom furniture. The Business Interiors team sourced and installed:
- Specialist furniture for science labs, woodworking and metalworking workshops and art rooms
- Dedicated storage infrastructure including steel storage units, compactus systems and industrial racking
- Core school furniture across classrooms, libraries, canteens and administration areas
When budgets tightened and timelines shifted, Business Interiors responded proactively — identifying product alternatives that upheld design intent without compromising delivery. Close collaboration with stakeholders ensured every decision was aligned and all substitutions were reviewed, approved and arranged quickly.
A structured, staged installation program was executed in close coordination with Roberts Co, furniture vendors, logistics providers and specialist installation partners. Active on-site project management across the full installation period kept trades aligned, issues resolved quickly and milestones on track.
THE RESULT
Both schools were open and operational in time for the new school term, exactly as briefed. The upgrades have delivered purpose-built environments that give teachers greater flexibility and students access to the tools, technology and spaces they need to thrive.
The new facilities include:
- Adaptable classrooms that flex between small-group and whole-class learning
- Specialist spaces equipped for a wide range of subjects and hands-on disciplines
- Technology-integrated environments that support diverse learning styles
- Multipurpose halls, libraries and canteens designed for the long term
“The new spaces are designed to inspire and support innovative teaching and learning. Our specialist classrooms provide tailored environments that cater to a variety of subjects and skills, allowing students to explore their interests with the best resources available.” — Principal, Cumberland High School
Business Interiors’ ability to manage complexity — across procurement, stakeholder consultation, logistics and installation — was central to the project’s success. From the first specification meeting to placing the final chair, the team delivered exactly what was promised: on time, on brief, to budget and built for the future.
