Partner with us to design a medical centre that supports your goals

Absolutely. We understand that not all clients can define every service they’ll offer in the next three to five years. That’s why we use our expertise to recommend room types, sizes, and locations that meet your current needs while remaining adaptable for future changes.

Some rooms are essential from the start, while others can be added or modified later. As your clinic grows, you may bring in new doctors or attract allied health tenants - each potentially requiring new or different spaces.

For example, if you decide to offer IUD insertion and removal, the best practice would be to do so in a dedicated procedure room, separate from your general treatment or first aid areas. Or, if you expand into physiotherapy services with equipment needs, you’ll likely require a room twice the size of a typical psychologist’s office.

Overall, your business will benefit from a fitout designed with adaptability in mind. We plan plumbing and electrical services, and structural elements to allow future alterations with minimal disruption.

At Design Yard 32, we manage your clinic’s spatial diagram to define key adjacencies - in simple terms, how spaces relate to each other and which rooms need to be located nearby.

Just like every other part of the design process, we consult with you during this stage, combining our design vision with a thorough analysis of your site or building.

Thinking through workflow early in the design process helps ensure your clinic runs smoothly from day one - and sets you up for operational success in the long term.

Yes, our experienced design and drafting team will create real-scale cabinetry layouts for every room in your medical centre. You can rely on our expertise to include everything that’s needed - whether it’s lockable storage, strategic placement of power points, or practical configurations for medical, administrative, or storage spaces.

Our knowledge is shaped by years of collaboration with healthcare professionals like yourself, who have shared their preferences and user feedback with us. Throughout the design process, we’ll present the latest cabinetry fittings and fixtures and develop custom solutions where standard ones don’t meet your needs.

You can expect a professional, fully notated drafting package from Design Yard 32 - clearly detailing all cabinetry inclusions.

Ambulance-compliant access is a requirement for all medical clinics; however, having a separate ambulance entry is not always mandated by regulations. That said, we strongly recommend exploring the option of a dedicated ambulance entry, separate from the public entrance, and designing your first aid or emergency area with privacy in mind.

Our team will assess your existing building and site conditions to determine the most suitable solution. If your site currently lacks zero-step access, we’ll propose entry modifications to meet compliance and design the vehicle access taking into account ambulance vehicle size, turning radius, and clearance requirements.

Yes. In Australia, all public spaces must provide equal access for people with disabilities through the same public entry - ensuring inclusivity and avoiding any form of discrimination or segregation.

If you're unsure whether your current entry is compliant, our team can assess your existing building or site survey and recommend any necessary alterations to achieve full accessibility in line with Australian Standards and the Disability Discrimination Act.

Depending on the nature of your healthcare business and state regulations, you may need to operate from a facility that is licensed and/or accredited to suit your service model. The guidelines and requirements for a Day Procedure Centre are far more stringent than those for a small medical clinic.

At Design Yard 32, we support you through every step of facility and design-related compliance for your clinic, whether you need: AIP (Approval in Principle) from your state health department, RACGP or AGPAL Accreditation.

Here’s how our design expertise makes a difference:

• RACGP & Infection-Control Design: We guide layout and material choices - such as non-porous, easy-to-clean surfaces, hand hygiene stations, isolation areas, and optimum ventilation - to align with infection prevention and control best practices.

• Consultation Rooms That Pass Accreditation: We ensure your consulting rooms are fit for purpose, private, and meet RACGP Criterion

• Universal and Functional Design: From general disability access to safety measures we help your clinic meet accreditation requirements and serve all patients comfortably.

• Support Through Accreditation Journey: Whether for AGPAL or other accredited bodies, we consult on how your physical layout and workflow support compliance, streamlining your path to accreditation.

Yes - an upgraded façade and well-placed signage can instantly elevate your clinic’s visibility and professionalism. At Design Yard 32, we collaborate with trusted signage specialists to select materials and styles that align with your design, brand identity, and budget.

We also handle compliance: some local councils require a planning permit or planning report for external signage once it exceeds certain size or type thresholds. Before moving forward, we screen your local planning scheme to make sure your signage proposals are within permissible limits or determine if you’ll need approval.

How often have you passed a sleek building with a mismatched, clashing sign that undermines, rather than enhances, its aesthetic? We believe signage design should be planned early, creating harmony with architecture, surroundings, and your brand.

With our design collaboration you’ll see visualisations showing how proposed signage sits on the façade, whether the text is readable at various distances, and how it complements the environment and brand.

Absolutely. When you have the opportunity to build from scratch, you can truly shape a medical centre that’s right for your patients and staff - without the constraints of an existing layout. With a blank slate, we can help you:

• Crafting an efficient layout that supports seamless patient and staff flow and future adaptability, allowing your space to evolve - be it tenant changes or service expansions

• Allowing for allied health tenancies, creating flexible zones that meet diverse needs

• Elevating your clinic’s presence through meaningful architectural expression that’s more than just aesthetic

• Incorporate a cohesive and expressive façade - where thoughtful material choice, light control, and branding contribute to healing, privacy, and a professional identity

• Create a healing environment that promotes well-being, using biophilic elements, natural light, and thoughtful spatial design, which can improve patient outcomes and staff satisfaction 

• Implement energy-efficient design principles - such as optimal orientation, high-performance insulation, and renewable energy integration - to reduce operational costs and minimise environmental impact

You’re not just constructing a building - you are investing in a facility designed to support modern healthcare delivery, future-proofed to accommodate change, while prioritising comfort, efficiency, and wellness.

The good news is: in many cases, converting a residential building to commercial use, such as a medical centre, is relatively straightforward. However, whether this is possible depends on planning controls specific to your site, your local council, and your state.

Planning Controls

The need for a permit will depend on local planning schemes. For example, in Victoria, certain planning zones and overlays may require a permit for a “change of use” of land. Additionally, if there are any changes to the building envelope, a planning permit for “development” may also be needed.

In the early stages of design, we will review your site’s planning regulations and consult with you to decide whether we can design within the guidelines to avoid a planning permit or if applying for one is necessary or advantageous.

If a planning permit is required, we will prepare and submit all necessary drawings and associated reports to your local council on your behalf.

For larger projects, or when required by the local council, we’ll help coordinate additional specialist reports. Common examples include:

• Site feature and level survey

• Arborist report

• Traffic impact assessment

• Stormwater impact assessment

• Section J – Energy Efficiency Report

Building Permit

The building permit process for your medical centre will be similar to that of any typical commercial project. We will guide you through it as part of the design and documentation process.

Other Considerations

• Switchboard Upgrade: Medical centres typically have greater power requirements than residential homes. An upgrade to the switchboard may be necessary to support medical equipment and increased load.

• Structural Adequacy: Our builder will assess the structural integrity of the existing building to determine whether it can support the proposed changes. If necessary, we’ll advise on upgrading or reinforcing structural elements to meet the new design and compliance requirements.

• Accessibility Compliance: We will assess your site and engage a building surveyor to review accessibility compliance. There are a number of solutions available to address non-compliant entries and circulation spaces.

• HVAC and Ventilation: An upgrade is likely required during the conversion process and will be proposed in accordance with ventilation regulations and best practice standards for medical facilities.

• Soundproofing and Acoustics: Most residential buildings lack soundproofing. We will specify the most appropriate products and finishes to address acoustic separation and patient privacy requirements.

• Waste Management: Adequate space for waste storage and collection will be required, including provision for clinical waste where applicable.

We operate using established design and documentation stages to ensure efficient project flow. The specific stages will depend on the nature of your project - for example, an internal fitout typically requires less compliance screening than a new construction.

Before commencing any work, we will provide you with a clear description of each stage relevant to your project.

Absolutely. We develop reflected ceiling plans that include a tailored lighting layout for your clinic.

We follow the recommended light intensity levels per square metre, ensuring each room meets its functional requirements. Some spaces will require cooler, brighter task lighting with higher intensity, which is most effective when evenly distributed across the room.

Other areas may benefit from flexible lighting, allowing you to switch between bright task lighting and dimmed, softer ambient light - ideal for creating a calming atmosphere when needed.

We also consider:

• Compliance with AS/NZS 1680 (Interior lighting for clinical and office spaces)

• Integration of emergency and exit lighting as required by NCC

• Energy-efficient lighting design (e.g. LED fittings, automation, and Section J compliance)

• Sensor or timer-based controls for low-traffic or admin areas

Whether you’re building a general practice, specialist clinic, or allied health space, our lighting plans are designed to balance performance, comfort, and energy efficiency.

Yes, we will work closely with you to review your list of equipment - from computer stations and fridges to plug-in medical devices. The electrical and data plan we provide will ensure you have sufficient power outlets, data ports, and USB connections to meet your clinic’s needs.

Additionally, we consider future-proofing by allowing for potential expansion of equipment and technology, so your medical centre remains adaptable as your needs evolve.

Other Considerations

• Emergency Lighting and Exit Signs: We include compliant emergency lights and exit signage to ensure safe evacuation routes during power outages.

• Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS): For critical devices such as servers or diagnostic equipment, we can allow for backup battery supply to prevent data loss or disruption during outages.

• Security Cameras: We can coordinate wiring and placement for CCTV systems to support safety, surveillance, and compliance.

• Dedicated Circuits for Equipment: High-demand or sensitive medical equipment will be connected to their own circuits to ensure performance and safety.

• Telephones and Intercom Systems: We’ll plan for reliable phone lines and intercoms throughout the clinic to support internal communication and patient flow.

Here is some of our advice for your consideration:

• Enabling delegation of some treatments to nurses and certain tasks to admin through smart design

• Incorporating acoustic solutions for specific rooms to improve privacy and comfort

• Providing privacy screening for administrative tasks that require confidentiality

• Enhancing doctors’ and nurses’ safety and well-being through thoughtful room layout, panic buttons, lighting, and a combination of solid and translucent materials

• Selecting finishes that are easy to sanitise and clean

• Allocating rooms for temporary isolation of infected patients

• Listing all large equipment along with their power requirements

• Determining the number of sinks needed for handwashing, equipment cleaning, general cleaning, and any specialised cleaning requiring separate sinks

• Planning space for waste disposal bins of all required categories, including areas for wheelie bins

• Maximising natural light in workspaces to support the mental and physical well-being of staff and patients; noting that some procedures require natural light for examination

• Providing total light blockout options for certain procedures that require full darkness, including the use of blackout blinds for glazing

Yes, we work closely with reputable, licensed commercial builders across several Australian states. They provide preliminary quotes based on the initial design drafts - before construction drawings are finalized, so we can ensure the design aligns with your budget expectations.