Windana Drug and Alcohol Services needed to relocate to a site better positioned to serve their community. The chosen tenancy – a former gymnasium in Bentleigh, Victoria – required a full transformation into a purpose-built community health centre, delivered with minimal disruption to ongoing operations. The project presented several constraints from the outset: low-hanging overhead services, strict acoustic requirements for counselling rooms, and a tight footprint and budget.

Interite approached these constraints as design opportunities. Existing overhead services informed curved walls and considered corridor detailing, while exposed ceilings in the staff areas were retained to create height and a sense of openness. The layout strategically zones staff and client areas, with safety integrated throughout via secure entry points. Panoramic windows were a defining feature of the tenancy, and this natural light was maximised across the open-plan workstations, kitchen breakout, and client consult rooms; creating an environment that feels purposeful rather than clinical.

To maximise the client’s budget, Interite value engineered the fitout by reusing existing furniture and select flooring throughout. Multi-functional spaces were also incorporated into the design, including an operable wall system that allows a single meeting room to function as both a breakout and training facility. Delivered ten days ahead of a nine-week programme, the result is a tailored community health workplace and clinic, that meets the operational needs of both staff and clients.