Commercial work in Dunedin sits at the intersection of fit-out craft, structural know-how, and seismic compliance. SB2 Build runs all three end-to-end — one team, one phone number, one fixed-price contract.
We're a Mosgiel-based commercial design and build team backed by Licensed Building Practitioner, Registered Master Builder, and HazardCo credentials. Our team is always on site for the duration of every commercial project we run.
We cover four service lines for commercial clients across Dunedin and wider Otago. Each runs under the same fixed-price, owner-on-site model. Whether you need a single tenancy fit-out or a multi-phase strengthening project, the team that quotes the work is the team that delivers it.
We deliver retail, office, and hospitality fit-outs from initial design through to handover. That covers layout planning, partitioning, joinery, electrical and plumbing coordination, ceilings, flooring, and finishes. We also handle two specialist installations that come up often: acoustic soundproofing and firewall installation between tenancies.
More on our light commercial fit-out service
Structural upgrades cover anything that changes how a building carries its loads. They're a routine part of commercial renovations and a common precursor to fit-outs in older buildings. Common scenarios include opening up a load-bearing wall, reinforcing a foundation, or reframing for a change of use.
More on our structural upgrades service
Earthquake strengthening brings a building up to a safer percentage of the New Building Standard (NBS). Most projects start with an EPB notice from Dunedin City Council under the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016. The work runs from the engineer's seismic assessment through to consent, build, and final NBS rating.
More on how seismic strengthening works
We also build for Otago's rural and industrial operators. That includes woolsheds, cowsheds, machinery and fertiliser storage, and warehouses for industrial and farm-supply businesses. It's our genuine specialty. Rural clients tend to notice quickly when the team they're working with understands the operation a building has to support.
Three things matter when you choose a commercial builder: who runs the project, how accountable they are, and whether they hold the credentials commercial work demands.
Either the principal builder or the operations lead is on site for the duration of every commercial job. There's no site manager layer between you and the boss. The person making daily calls is the same person whose name is on the contract.
SB2 Build holds the four credentials that matter: Licensed Building Practitioner (legally permitted to perform restricted commercial work), Registered Master Builder, BCITO training partner, and HazardCo for site health and safety.
We run the project end to end — design coordination, council consent, engineering, subcontractors, materials, programme, snag list, and handover. You make the calls that need an owner's view; we handle everything else.
Every commercial project we run follows the same five stages. The timeline at each stage scales with project complexity.
| Stage | What Happens | Typical Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial Conversation | On-site walk-through and an honest first chat about whether SB2 Build is the right fit. No quote yet. No pressure. | 1 meeting |
| 2. Site Assessment & Scope | Engineers brought in where needed, scope agreed, inclusions and exclusions documented. | 2–6 weeks |
| 3. Quote & Contract | A written, itemised, fixed-price quote with clear allowances. Once signed, we move into consenting. | 1–3 weeks |
| 4. Consenting & Build | Consent lodged with DCC, owner-led on-site, weekly progress, and tight programme control. | Project-specific |
| 5. Handover | Final inspections, Code Compliance Certificate, snag walk-through, and full documentation pack. | 1–2 weeks |
For occupied buildings, we can stage the work or operate after hours where the project allows. Staging gets discussed at Stage 1, not at the end.
We're based in Mosgiel, and we cover the whole Otago region. Most of our commercial work is concentrated in central Dunedin and the surrounding industrial and retail precincts. From Princes Street, the Exchange, the Warehouse Precinct, South Dunedin, and to the Mosgiel and Taieri estates. We also travel into the Clutha and Waitaki districts for rural commercial and farm-related builds.
If you're outside the areas listed and you're not sure whether we'd take on the project, the simplest thing is to ask.
Yes, where the project allows. After-hours and staged work are common on retail and hospitality fit-outs where closing the tenancy isn't an option. We talk through the staging plan at the scoping stage, before anything's signed, so you know exactly what's possible upfront.
Yes. DCC commercial consents are part of the project management package. We lodge the application, respond to council requests, and follow it through to issue. For projects with engineering input, we coordinate the engineer's documentation as part of the application.
If your building has been classified as earthquake-prone, you'll have received an EPB notice from the council with a deadline. Otago sits in a medium seismic risk zone, so for most buildings the deadline is 25 years from notice. Priority buildings on transport routes and pedestrian areas get shorter timeframes. The most useful first step is a conversation with someone who's run this process before.
Whether you're fitting out a new shop, upgrading an older Dunedin commercial building, or working through earthquake-prone building requirements, we'd love to talk through your project. The first conversation is with our team directly, on your site, with no obligations attached.
Send us a message through the contact form, and we'll be in touch within the same business day.
Visit us: 54 Argyle Street, Mosgiel 9024