DESIGN INSIGHTS FOR RENAL UNITS:
LESSONS LEARNED FROM DELIVERING
SATELLITE HEALTH CENTRE PROJECTS
How can a renal unit deliver safe care, efficient workflows, and a dignified experience for patients undergoing lifelong treatment?
Designing a renal facility is a deeply human endeavour. These environments support people who may spend several hours each week receiving treatment, often over many years. They must also enable clinical teams to provide highly specialised care efficiently, safely, and consistently.
Through our experience delivering renal facilities, including projects within the Satellite Health Centre Program, we have gained valuable insights into what helps these facilities operate successfully today while remaining adaptable for tomorrow. As models of care continue to evolve—including satellite dialysis services, in-centre treatment, home dialysis support, and facilities serving remote and First Nations communities—the need for flexible, patient-centred design has never been greater.
Understanding the Evolving Renal Care Landscape
Contemporary renal planning extends beyond traditional hospital-based dialysis units. Increasingly, health services are seeking:
- Satellite facilities closer to where people live
- Home dialysis training and support spaces
- Flexible treatment models that accommodate changing patient demand
- Culturally appropriate facilities for remote and First Nations communities
- Integrated services that support long-term chronic disease management
These emerging care models require designers to think beyond minimum compliance and create environments that are responsive to local needs, clinical workflows, and future service growth.
Eight Mile Plains, Satellite Health Centre, Qld
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED:
KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR RENAL FACILITY DESIGN
1. Interpret Guidelines Through the Lens of Care Models
The Australasian Health Facility Guidelines (AHFG) provide an excellent starting point, but successful renal facilities are rarely delivered by applying guidelines alone.
Different operational models—satellite, in-centre, home dialysis support, or remote services—often require tailored solutions. We help clients interpret AHFG requirements to suit their model of care, budget, workforce needs, and site constraints while maintaining compliance and functionality.
2. 3D Visualisation De-Risks Decision Making
Our experience has shown that 3D modelling significantly improves stakeholder engagement.
Clinicians, maintenance teams, project managers, and executives can better understand sightlines, equipment locations, circulation paths, and operational workflows before construction begins. This visibility helps identify issues early, reduces redesign risk, and supports faster, more confident sign-off.
3. Plan Services Infrastructure Early
Renal facilities are technically intensive buildings.
Water treatment systems, reticulation networks, medical services, and mechanical systems influence:
- Structural design
- Floor and wall build-ups
- Building height and plant requirements
- Spatial coordination throughout the facility
Addressing these systems early reduces project risk, avoids costly rework, and improves overall project efficiency.
4. Design Structures for Future Adaptability
Patient numbers, treatment technologies, and operational models will evolve over time.
Facilities designed with future flexibility in mind can accommodate changing service demands, additional treatment positions, or altered care models without major structural intervention. Investing in adaptability today can significantly reduce future capital costs.
5. Operational Logistics Shape the Building More Than You Think
Deliveries, consumables management, linen handling, and clinical waste streams have a major impact on planning decisions.
Understanding these operational requirements early helps ensure adequate storage, efficient back-of-house circulation, and safer working environments for staff.
6. Ground-Level Plant Improves Safety and Maintenance
Where site conditions permit, locating RO plant and major mechanical infrastructure at ground level offers significant benefits.
These include:
- Safer maintenance access
- Reduced manual handling risks
- Simpler equipment replacement
- Easier delivery and servicing
- Reduced operational disruptions
Small planning decisions can have substantial whole-of-life benefits.
Kallangur, Satellite Health Centre, Qld
7. Workflow Mapping Creates Measurable Efficiencies
One of the most valuable design exercises is mapping staff movement throughout the facility.
Reviewing journeys between treatment bays, testing points, storage areas, utilities, and support rooms frequently reveals opportunities to reduce travel distances and improve operational efficiency. In several projects, relatively minor adjustments have delivered meaningful improvements in staff productivity and daily workflows.
8. Wayfinding and Arrival Experiences Matter
Renal patients are frequent visitors and may arrive feeling unwell or fatigued.
Clear wayfinding, intuitive building layouts, sheltered patient drop-off areas, and straightforward access to treatment spaces can significantly improve the patient experience. These elements contribute to dignity, reduce anxiety, and help create a calm and supportive environment.
9. Comfort Is a Clinical Consideration
Patients often spend many hours receiving treatment, making comfort a critical design objective rather than simply a desirable feature.
Feedback consistently highlights the importance of:
- Access to natural light and pleasant outlooks
- Privacy options where appropriate
- Individual lighting control
- Device charging capability
- Personal storage
- Comfortable treatment environments
These design considerations support wellbeing, independence, and patient satisfaction.
10. Materials Influence Experience
Durability remains essential in healthcare environments, but robustness should not come at the expense of comfort.
Warm, welcoming material palettes can help reduce the institutional feel often associated with clinical spaces, creating environments that are reassuring for both patients and staff.
11. Everyday Amenities Have a Big Impact
Features that may seem minor during planning can become some of the most valued aspects of a facility.
Well-designed beverage bays, conveniently located refreshments, and adequate refrigerated storage for patient food all contribute to greater comfort and autonomy during lengthy treatment sessions.
12. Visibility and Storage Support Better Care
Effective observation remains fundamental to renal unit design.
Staff require clear sightlines across treatment areas, supported by conveniently located storage, preparation spaces, and consumables management. Providing adequate storage close to points of care helps reduce clutter, minimise corridor congestion, and improve operational efficiency.
Eight Mile Plains, Satellite Health Centre, Qld
Eight Mile Plains, Satellite Health Centre, Qld
Reviewing Staff Workflows Unlocks Efficiencies
Mapping staff journeys—particularly between treatment bays, RO testing points, and support spaces—helped us streamline planning. Small adjustments, such as providing an internal access point to the RO plant, reduced clinical travel time and improved efficiency.
Wayfinding and the Patient Journey Matter Deeply
Renal patients visit frequently and often arrive fatigued. Clear, intuitive wayfinding and prioritised, sheltered drop-off points significantly improve their experience and dignity. Early consideration of these elements helps create a facility that feels calm and respectful.
Patient Comfort Must Be Central to Design
Patients spend extended periods in treatment, comfort is essential.
Feedback highlighted the value of:
Pleasant outlooks or privacy options
Individual lighting control
Access to power for device charging
Personal storage spaces
Designing with empathy enriches patient wellbeing.
Warm, Durable Materials Are Welcomed
A soft, calming material palette—balanced with durability—was appreciated by both staff and patients. The environment influences mood, comfort, and perception of care.
The Beverage Bay Is More Important Than It Sounds
A large refrigerator for patient food and a well-located beverage bay were heavily utilised. Small amenities can have a large impact on comfort and autonomy during long treatments.
Staff Sightlines and Storage Are Critical
Staff need excellent visibility across treatment bays, along with generous storage to reduce clutter and streamline care. Designing spaces for trolley preparation and consumables close to the bays prevents corridor congestion and improves workflow.
Ripley, Satellite Health Centre, Qld
Bribie Island, Satellite Health Centre, Qld
DESIGNING FOR REMOTE AND FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES
Renal care planning increasingly involves facilities serving regional, remote, and First Nations communities, where cultural considerations, workforce availability, climate responsiveness, and connections to Country may be just as important as clinical functionality.
Designing these facilities requires genuine engagement, flexible operational models, and environments that support both healthcare delivery and community wellbeing. Facilities that reflect local identity and cultural values can help improve patient comfort, connection, and service utilisation.
SHARING EXPERIENCE TO SUPPORT BETTER OUTCOMES
Every renal unit has unique operational requirements, but the most successful projects share common characteristics: they are designed around people, informed by clinical workflows, and adaptable to future change.
Whether you are planning a new satellite facility, expanding an existing dialysis service, or exploring renal care solutions for regional and remote communities, early design engagement can unlock significant benefits—from reduced rework and shorter clinical walking distances to safer maintenance outcomes and improved patient experiences.
If you are planning a new renal unit or refurbishing an existing facility, we can help test-fit options, validate operational models, and stage delivery to suit your budget and service needs.
We are also available to workshop these lessons with clinical, operational, and infrastructure teams during the earliest stages of planning, helping translate strategic ambitions into practical, patient-centred design outcomes.
Authors: Justine Ebzery, Hayley Crofts & Dr YE NG
Photography: © Scott Burrows, Chris Wardle & Hutchinson Builders
