A NEW medical centre at Southport is fully leased following the inclusion of new tenant Queensland X-Ray.

A subsidiary of Sonic Healthcare Limited, the company has opened on the 697sqm ground and first floor premise and secured naming rights to the building.

The group joins Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, a specialist surgical practice dealing with Oral, Maxillofacial and reconstructive surgery, which opened in November on the second level.

Pacific Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery provides patients with access to high-quality diagnostic imaging services and to date, has operated through radiology departments at private and public hospitals and private radiology practices across Queensland.

The project was developed by Netscent, a company associated with two local medical specialists. It spans five-levels, including two levels of underground carparking, on a 1200sqm site.

The building, designed in a joint project between Greg Barnes Design Group and Shane Denman Architects, has been acclaimed by industry professionals and patients for its cutting-edge architecture, not often seen in medical buildings. The duo's other major projects include Burleigh Bears, Southport Yacht Club, Southport Sharks' renovations and Aqua, at Labrador.

Construction by Stuart Crompton Projects was completed in November 2006.

Marketing agent Caralyn Wiles says the developer took a gamble commissioning a bold, contemporary design with a striking red and charcoal façade.

However, the building has revitalised the Southport medical precinct and been warmly received by the public.

"Southport is in desperate need of new, high-quality medical facilities and because of this we were able to be very particular with selecting the tenants - not only for its iconic nature," she says.

"It was very satisfying to be involved in the establishment of Queensland X-Ray on the Gold Coast. 128 Queen Street will now be home to the group's flagship Gold Coast practice, with state-of-the-art services in a location convenient for practitioners and patients.

"Development of the centre has helped ease the strain on the area's medical services and provided much-needed space to accommodate two vital medical fields," says Ms Wiles.