Pharmacy Design

Our design package is tailored to each project but typically includes an initial briefing and site assessment, a working layout with coordinated dispensary, retail, and ancillary spaces, three-dimensional visualisations to support decision-making, tender documentation for builder pricing, construction documentation suitable for building permits or fitout certification, pharmacy authority submission plans, and ACPA plans. We remain available throughout the construction phase to answer builder queries and provide supplementary drawings as required. Our goal is to see every project through from concept to practical completion.

In most cases, yes. Commercial pharmacy fitouts typically require a building permit or fitout certification under the National Construction Code. The applicable pathway depends on the state, the extent of works, and whether structural changes or essential services modifications are involved. We identify the correct certification pathway early in the design process and manage the submission on your behalf. We also assist with any planning permits required for signage, shopfront, or external works.

We provide guidance on signage design, placement, and compliance as part of the overall pharmacy design. For detailed shopfront and fascia signage, we collaborate with experienced signage consultants - coordinating their work within the broader project to ensure a cohesive outcome. We also manage any council approvals required for signage changes.

Yes. Shopfront design is part of our service offering. We consider the exterior as part of the full patient and customer experience, designing facades and signage that align with your brand identity and comply with local council requirements. Where council approval is required for shopfront modifications, we prepare and lodge the relevant submissions.

Absolutely. We prepare detailed tender documentation that allows builders to price your project accurately and competitively. Our documentation is thorough enough to support meaningful builder comparison and reduce the risk of variations during construction. We also assist clients in evaluating builder quotes and identifying any scope gaps or discrepancies before contracts are signed.

We don’t lodge submissions on your behalf. As the responsible pharmacist, you will present the new pharmacy floor operations based on our plans. Our role is to prepare compliant submission-ready plans for you to lodge, and we’re happy to review the plans, help address any feedback from your state pharmacy authority, and support you in explaining the design solutions if needed.

Pharmacy fitout costs depend on the size of the tenancy, the state and location, the services included, the level of fitout quality, and whether specialist environments such as compounding rooms or sterile cleanrooms are required. In major metropolitan areas, typical costs range from $2,000 to $3,500 per m² for a standard community pharmacy, with Sydney at the higher end and Brisbane, Adelaide, and Hobart more competitive. For a detailed breakdown of pharmacy fitout cost benchmarks across all locations and fitout types, visit our Pharmacy Fitout Costs page.

Yes - and this is a service we regularly provide. When testing a new location, a staged fitout approach allows you to open professionally and compliantly without over-committing capital before the site proves itself. We design layouts that function well today and accommodate future upgrades without requiring major reconstruction. Our focus is on getting the fundamental dispensary design right and making considered, flexible choices in retail - so that your pharmacy can grow as the business grows.