Types of Office Space | Medical Space
Medical office space has requirements a standard office lease doesn't: plumbing, biohazard disposal, ADA access, and more. What to know before you search.
One office space certainly does not fit all, especially for businesses that require medical capabilities. Whether you're a therapist in need of a quiet, private space for your patients, or a physician looking for a fully-equipped clinical suite, medical office space comes with requirements a standard office lease doesn't.
Medical office space differs from standard office space in a few key ways: specialized plumbing and gas lines, biohazard waste disposal, ADA-compliant layouts, higher parking ratios for patient volume, and sometimes reinforced structure or higher ceilings for equipment. Not every building or landlord is set up to accommodate these needs, so it's worth identifying your specific requirements before touring.
What Is Medical Office Space?
The term "medical office space" covers a wide range of options, from a single therapist's private practice to a multi-provider clinic with imaging equipment. What they come down to is creating a more accessible location for patients and practice alike. Many medical practices choose to locate near a hospital or near a specific patient demographic, since proximity supports both convenience and referral relationships with other providers in the area.
Key Requirements to Consider
Plumbing and gas lines: Many medical practices need specialized plumbing for sinks and equipment, or gas lines for certain procedures. Not every existing space has this infrastructure in place, and retrofitting it can be a significant buildout cost.
Biohazard waste disposal: Practices that use hazardous materials, X-rays, or other equipment that generates biomedical waste need a space and a plan that can accommodate proper disposal, along with any related radiation shielding requirements.
ADA compliance: Medical offices see a wide range of patients, so accessible entrances, hallways, exam rooms, and restrooms are essential, not optional.
Parking ratios: Medical practices often see a higher volume of patients relative to staff than a typical office, so parking ratios well above the standard 3 to 4 spaces per 1,000 square feet are usually worth prioritizing during a search.
After-hours access: Many practices need to see patients outside standard business hours, and not every building or lease structure accommodates that without additional utility charges. It's worth clarifying this upfront rather than discovering it after signing.
Structure and ceiling height: Certain equipment, imaging machines in particular, may require reinforced flooring or higher ceilings than a standard office buildout provides.
Find Medical Office Space in Your Market
With all the specifications and niche details a medical practice needs, finding the right space can feel overwhelming. TenantBase matches medical and dental practices with tenant rep brokers experienced in exactly this kind of space, in markets across the country.
Not sure medical space is the right fit? See how TenantBase matches practices with brokers by space type and market.
See also: Get Matched With a Tenant Rep Broker, By Market and Space Type →Find Your Medical Practice's Next Space
A local tenant rep can help you navigate the specific requirements your practice needs, at no cost to you.
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