Montessori International College Master Plan Review 2020-2040 & Ministerial Infrastructure Designation

The Challenge
The 2012 Campus Master Plan was generated in an organisational culture of “survival” as the MIC sought to relocate from its Sippy Downs site and establish a permanent home. This was a time of uncertainty.
 
Since the opening of the new campus in 2015, the college has experienced strong growth and a shift in organisational culture towards “thrival”. The 2012 Master Plan has already undergone 3 amendments with the Sunshine Coast Council to respond to short-term drivers of change.

The Montessori International College community renewed their Vision, Mission and Strategic Plan in 2017, using visioning and foresight processes to recast their preferred future within the local and global education sector. The emerging vision for the campus is to become a mixed use “Village of Learners” and community impact hub.

As a result of the Futures Visioning Workshop (on 27th May, 2017) a number of issues were raised that challenged the current master plan outcomes and what it means for the site.

A review of the existing master plan is required to ensure strategic alignment between the organisational vision and place vision for the college, and to formulate the long-term design strategies to guide development for the next 20 to 40-year time horizon. Ideally the master plan aims to be robust to remain relevant for the next 100 years.
FutureSense+PlaceSense provided project management and urban design services and led the multi-disciplinary team in 2019-2020 to prepare the MIC 2040 Master Plan and Ministerial Infrastructure Designation Application.

The Design Approach
  • Participatory design and futures thinking sessions with users to establish the revised place vision and project brief;
  • Scenario planning of Master Plan Options and SWOT analysis of respective impacts;
  • Review of Campus place outcomes, eco-design principles and strategies;
  • Scenic Landscape Assessment of proposed Master Plan building envelopes along major tourist route (Maroochydore Rd);
  • Community and Stakeholder engagement of the preferred Draft Master Plan, prior to submission to the Queensland State Government for a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation.

The Results
The Queensland Minister of Infrastructure & Planning issued the descision notice on the 17 June 2020 approving the 2040 Master Plan.

The proposed scope of the new master plan aims to make a significant contribution to the place vision of the college by achieving the following:
  • Shift the main campus northwards, away from Maroochydore Road Traffic noise to allow passive ventilation and permeable indoor – outdoor learning spaces;
  • A flood immune, green school that uses the site’s natural assets as a living laboratory and learning resource;
  • The master plan continues to protect remnant vegetation. Buildings are generally located within existing clearings, or areas of mixed weed species, and
  • A viable campus that allows incremental development over the long-term, in an orderly, eco-efficient way to accommodate 850 K-12 students and 103 staff.

The Consultant Team

Architecture, Urban Design, Project Management, Community Consultation: PlaceSense
Urban Planning: RPS
Ecology & Bushfire: Mark Taylor Ecology
Flooding: Hydralogic
Traffic & Carparking: Hayes Traffic Engineering
Earthworks: TOD Consulting Engineers
Fish Habitat/Waterways: Fishology
Acoustics: TTM Consulting
Quantity Surveyor: Whittaker & Associates
Land Surveyors: Murray & Associates + RPS
Scenario Planning - Master plan options and impacts
Detailed Design & Ministerial Infrastructure Designation