OPTIMA

17/06/2026

17/06/2026

Gentle Dental Hervey Bay: what was once just a big idea and grand plan is now a vision realised, from the ground up.

Designed & built by OPTIMA | Simplifying healthcare construction

15/06/2026

PROJECT UPDATE | Dental Practice New Build, VIC

Stage: Structural steel installation

An exciting week on site at one of our ground-up dental practice builds in Victoria, with structural steel being erected.

This stage brings the project’s scale, layout and architectural intent into clear view.

From here, the future practice's structure will continue to progress as the build moves into its next phase of works.

10/06/2026

A healthcare environment can influence how a patient feels before the appointment begins.

For many people, entering a medical or dental practice comes with some level of uncertainty or anxiety. Design may not remove that feeling entirely, but it can help ease it. Natural light, visual openness and a considered connection to the outside world can all contribute to a calmer arrival experience.

This does not mean filling a practice with plants just for the sake of it. Often, it is about creating a visible connection beyond the room a patient is sitting in, whether that is a view to the sky, a courtyard that anchors the space, a considered green wall or natural light drawn through the interior.

Through design, we have the responsibility to shape how patients perceive healthcare environments, in turn, how they experience the care being provided. By giving people something restorative to look toward, while allowing the interior to feel open, grounded and connected, a practice can begin to create trust before the clinical interaction even starts.

09/06/2026

RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECT | Gentle Dental Hervey Bay – QLD
________________________________________
GFA: 416 m²
Site area: 2017 m²
Type: Ground up dental practice design and build

Details:
8 chair practice with dual-entry surgeries
GA theatre & recovery room
27 on-site car parks
Large reception & waiting area
Dedicated payments area
Kids zone
Staff room
Central sterilisation area
CBCT and photo room
Lab, plant & store rooms
Admin & business offices
________________________________________

Gentle Dental Hervey Bay was created as a flagship home for a fast-growing regional dental practice that had quickly outgrown its existing space.

Led by husband-and-wife team Dr Joshua Smith and Chantelle Smith, the practice needed room to grow, but they also needed one accountable partner to guide the project from early planning through to handover.

Client goal: create a warm, inviting, and highly functional practice built for growth and long-term presence in Hervey Bay.

OPTIMA’s involvement began from the first site visit, working closely with the Gentle Dental team to understand the site, the vision and the operational needs of the future practice. From there, briefing → design → approvals → documentation → construction and fitout.

The completed practice brings together clinical efficiency and a refined patient experience. Dual-entry surgeries support smooth movement between patient areas, clinical spaces and back-of-house functions, while the central sterilisation area strengthens day-to-day workflow.

Natural timbers, generous natural light, high ceilings and wide hallways create a spacious and welcoming environment for patients and families alike.

From a vacant block of land to a completed flagship practice, Gentle Dental Hervey Bay is now positioned to grow with its community for years to come.
________________________________________

Designed & built by OPTIMA | Simplifying healthcare construction

Dental chairs & units, imaging and sterilisers: Dentsply Sirona
IT: Teamwork Technology

🔗 Explore the full project feature here: https://buff.ly/B1LLVbU

04/06/2026

For healthcare practice owners, parking is often the first challenge to solve in the design and construction of a new facility.

It affects planning, access, and the overall experience, but when site size is limited, it can be the first thing that's compromised.

Our design approach: creative problem solving.

Undercroft parking can be a strategic way to maximise site potential, particularly on constrained blocks where at-grade parking would take valuable space away from the practice itself.

By integrating parking beneath the building footprint, more of the site can be utilised for clinical rooms, staff areas, patient amenities and enabling future growth. It can also support a more seamless arrival experience, helping patients move from car to reception with greater ease and confidence.

We have never met a patient who complained about having too many car parks to choose from. But when parking is limited, unclear or difficult to access, it can quickly become their first pain point.

OPTIMA | Simplifying healthcare construction

02/06/2026

PROJECT UPDATE | Medical Practice New Build
Stage: Joinery install

This purpose-built medical facility on Victoria’s Surf Coast continues to take shape, with the internal fitout now moving into a defining stage.

Joinery installation is well underway across the double storey practice, bringing shape, function, and finish into the clinical spaces. As cabinetry, workstations, storage, and key operational areas come together, the project is beginning to show the level of detail that will support both patient care and day-to-day workflow.

With completion now firmly in sight, the focus turns to the future of the practice itself: the clinical workflows it will support, the ownership journey it represents, and the Surf Coast community it will soon serve.

Designed & built by OPTIMA | Simplifying healthcare construction

26/05/2026

PROJECT UPDATE | Dental Practice Fitout, NSW

Amazing progress on site at one of our fitout projects in New South Wales.

See where the space is today, then look back at how far it has come over the past few months.

With walls, services and key spaces now taking shape, the next stage will see more of the finishes and detail come together.

25/05/2026

EVENT | RACGP Practice Owners Conference 2026

What an amazing weekend at the Practice Owners Conference at

It was inspiring to talk to so many ambitious doctors, GP practice owners, and future industry leaders who are looking to take the next step in their practice ownership journey.

What we took from the event was that the future of general practice is being shaped by practice owners who care deeply about the spaces they create, but more importantly the impact their environment can have on patients, staff, and the communities they serve.

Thank you to RACGP for hosting such a valuable event, and to everyone who took the time to connect with us over the weekend.

We look forward to continuing the conversation.

25/05/2026

EVENT | RACGP Practice Owners Conference 2026

What an amazing weekend at the The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Practice Owners Conference at the International Convention Centre Sydney.

It was inspiring to talk to so many ambitious doctors, GP practice owners, and future industry leaders who are looking to take the next step in their practice ownership journey.

What we took from the event was that the future of general practice is being shaped by practice owners who care deeply about the spaces they create, but more importantly the impact their environment can have on patients, staff, and the communities they serve.

Thank you to RACGP for hosting such a valuable event, and to everyone who took the time to connect with us over the weekend.

We look forward to continuing the conversation.