CASE STUDY: CASS Asquith — Complex Site, Changing Conditions, On-Time Delivery 

When the Chinese Australian Services Society (CASS) planned its new $35m aged-care facility in Asquith, NSW, the goal was to create a home that blends support with independence. Not just beds and rooms, but spaces where people can live well together. 

Myriad design and construction challenges 

The site came with hurdles: a steep slope that dropped toward parkland, basement parking needed contiguous piling and shoring walls, a train line on one side and a busy road on the other. And strict aged-care standards demand level access everywhere, no steps, no compromises. 

Then came the construction logistics. Two buildings, one for residential care and one for independent living, had to sit on the same podium system. Ground conditions turned out differently than expected during pier installation, and the higher side of the property had backfilled soil that couldn’t support a crane. 

Lucky Birzulis loves a challenge! 

We used preformed formwork walls as load-bearing elements that simplified the slab system and reduced floor slab turnaround to 10-14 days.  

The transfer slab system also supported both buildings on one platform, with strategic joints placed throughout to let the builder split construction into two manageable sections. 

For the crane dilemma, we bridged from the building to firm ground and built a custom platform. This saved the builder from needing a much larger crane and eliminated multiple relocations during construction. 

When the piling contractor hit unexpected ground conditions, we modified pier designs without slowing progress. This kept the structure sound and construction moving. 

All this was underpinned by weekly meetings with the client, builder, architect, and other consultants. Same-day responses to design queries, and most builder suggestions – we found a way to make it happen. 

Making space for life 

Thanks to Birzulis’ rapid-response flexibility and on-the-fly solutioning, the $35.4 million project wrapped up on schedule. 

98 beds and 11 independent living units across three floors with café, salon, multi-purpose spaces, dementia care area and basement parking carved from sloping terrain. 

All delivered with zero construction delays and downtime. 

Recognition of success 

In the wrap-up, Richard Crookes Constructions called Birzulis “…the only consultant they could rely on for quick responses.”  

With Calder Flower Architects, they have recommended Birzulis for their next projects, a clear sign that this partnership delivered more than a building. It built confidence. 

That trust came from Birzulis’ unmatched responsiveness, speed, flexibility, and solutions that matched the challenging site conditions.