People value real numbers with context more than generic $/sqm rates. Here is a transparent look at what drives budgets in four anonymised projects across Victoria: Radiology, Dental, IVF and GP. Ranges reflect 2024–2025 conditions and include common allowances, noted exclusions and lessons learned.
How to read these case studies
- All figures are anonymised and rounded for clarity.
- Fitout = building works only unless noted; equipment is called out separately.
- Common exclusions: base-build landlord works, make-good, major structural works and GST.
- Why ranges (not $/sqm only)? Because services capacity, compliance, landlord scope and equipment choices swing cost more than finishes. For a deeper primer, see our Medical Fitout Cost Guide (Victoria, 2025).
Case Study 1 — Radiology Clinic (MRI + CT)
Size: ~520 m² | Rooms: 1 x MRI suite, 1 x CT suite, 6 x consults, change rooms, reception, staff + plant
Baseline Fitout Range (build only): $2,300–$3,400/m² → $1.2–$1.8m
Imaging Equipment (separate):
- MRI and CT costs vary widely.
Key cost drivers we hit on this job
- RF cage and shielding (MRI), lead lining (CT), vibration isolation and quench pipe routing
- Electrical capacity and power quality: switchboard upgrades, new sub-mains, dedicated UPS and clean earth
- Structural coordination: slab penetrations for cable ways and MRI plinth
- Acoustics and patient experience: heavy partitions, doors and attenuation in scanner rooms
Budget risk to watch
- Incoming power upgrades quoted late by the network can add weeks and five-figure costs. We now pre-clear utilities before final pricing.
Lessons learned
- Lock equipment models and loads early to prevent redesign.
- Get utility pre-approval before pricing; hold a 5–10% services contingency.
- Sequence the MRI room first; long-lead RF components drive program.
Case Study 2 — Dental Clinic (6 chairs)
Size: ~310 m² | Rooms: 6 x surgeries, OPG room, steri, lab, reception, staff, plant
Fitout (build only): $1,600–$2,600/m² → $500k–$800k
Dental equipment (indicative add-ons):
- Typical packages vary by chair count and imaging (OPG/CBCT). See Dental Fitouts.
Key cost drivers we hit on this job
- Wet services density: suction, compressed air, RO/steri, floor wastes to every chair
- Radiation shielding for OPG/CBCT (lead linings and doors)
- Custom joinery (steri reprocessors, clean-to-dirty flows)
- Mechanical zoning for odour control and steri heat loads
What helped the budget
- An early equipment matrix (per-room models and connections) enabled prefabricated service rails and avoided rework.
Lessons learned
- Fix chair positions with the plumber, not just the designer.
- Submit shielding drawings early to streamline surveyor approvals.
- Do not under-spec steri HVAC; comfort issues are expensive to fix later.
Case Study 3 — IVF / Fertility Clinic (ISO-classified lab)
Size: ~420 m² | Rooms: ISO-7 embryology lab, andrology, cryo, procedure rooms, consults, recovery
Fitout (build only, including cleanroom envelope): $2,400–$3,800/m² → $1.0–$1.6m
Specialist allowances
- Cleanroom construction (ISO-7/8 walls and ceilings, sealed flooring, pass-throughs) and HEPA terminal boxes
- Gases and cryo services: LN₂ storage & monitoring, CO₂ incubators, O₂ depletion alarms
- Environmental stability: tight temperature, humidity and pressure differentials
Budget stretch we encountered
- Pressurisation cascade tuning after commissioning required two extra HEPA terminals and controls retuning. We now allow ceiling space for future terminals.
Lessons learned
- Model the pressure cascade early; design for maintainability.
- Specify calibration and monitoring contracts within the tender.
- Place long-lead cleanroom orders as soon as DD freezes.
Case Study 4 — General Practice (multi-provider)
Size: ~450 m² | Rooms: 10 x consults, 2 x treatment/minor ops, 2 x procedure clean/dirty, pathology, reception, staff
Fitout (build only): $1,400–$2,200/m² → $630k–$990k
Key cost drivers we hit on this job
- Compliance: access/DDA, fire, infection-control flows
- Acoustic privacy between consult rooms
- Treatment room services (medical gases optional), warm water to basins, resilient floors and coved skirtings
- Operational layout: front-of-house versus back-of-house flows and triage sightlines
See GP Clinic Fitouts.
What saved money
- A standardised room kit (identical consult modules) reduced design hours, waste and install variability.
Lessons learned
- Prioritise acoustics early with stud build-ups and door seals.
- Maintain a documented services schedule and review it with your surveyor.
- Group wet rooms to shorten hydraulics and reduce slab coring.
Cross-Project Budget Insights (what actually moves the needle)
- Services capacity leads. Incoming power, switchboards, HVAC tonnage and hydraulics density drive variance far more than finishes.
- Equipment first, design second. Lock models and loads early—especially for radiology and dental.
- Compliance is a cost line. Shielding, accessibility, fire and infection-control flows carry real dollars.
- Carry realistic contingencies. In the current market, a 10–15% contingency for complex clinics is prudent.
Quick Reference: Typical Ranges (Victoria, 2024–2025)
| Clinic Type | Fitout (Build Only) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GP / Allied Health | $1,400–$2,200/m² | Acoustic privacy, compliant treatment rooms, grouped wet areas. See GP Fitouts. |
| Dental (multi-chair) | $1,600–$2,600/m² (build) + equipment variable | Services density per chair; shielding for OPG/CBCT. See Dental Fitouts. |
| Radiology (MRI/CT) | $2,300–$3,400/m² (build) + imaging equipment | RF cage, lead lining, vibration isolation, power upgrades. See Radiology Fitouts. |
| IVF / Lab-Heavy | $2,400–$3,800/m² | Cleanroom envelope, HEPA, gases, environmental stability. See IVF Fitouts. |
Reminder: These ranges are directional. Your final budget depends on base-build condition, landlord scope, equipment selection, services capacity and program risk.
Practical next steps (keep your numbers on track)
- Pre-design due diligence: confirm incoming power, mechanical plant capacity/locations and hydraulic fall before you draw.
- Lock equipment schedules: models, loads, cut-sheets shared with engineers before DD pricing.
- Price a compliance matrix: shielding, DDA, fire and infection-control items listed and costed.
- Sanity-check quotes: benchmark using our Medical Fitout Cost Guide.
Conclusion
Transparent numbers beat generic rates. Across radiology, dental, IVF and GP, the biggest budget movers are services capacity, early equipment selection and compliance. Finishes matter, but power, HVAC, hydraulics, shielding and cleanroom needs matter more. Lock the clinical brief and equipment loads early, validate the base-build services and carry a realistic contingency to protect your program.
Key takeaways
- Validate incoming power, HVAC tonnage and hydraulics before design goes deep
- Fix equipment models and loads early to avoid redesign
- Treat compliance as a cost line, not an afterthought
- Standardise room kits where possible to control variance
Contact SoulMed
Planning a clinic or comparing quotes? We can translate your brief into a clear, line-by-line budget with assumptions, allowances and risks called out.
Book a free 20 minute feasibility chat book-a-chat
Or reach us at admin@soulmed.com.au | (03) 5900 4964
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