Campus planning strategy, Camperdown and Darlington campuses

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JUNE 2003 / V2

The 2003 Campus Planning Strategy builds upon many of the intentions in the 1990 University Strategy Plan and introduces new planning concepts.

It provides a framework of drivers, objectives and planning principles that is intended to guide the ongoing development and maintenance of the physical environment of the Camperdown and Darlington campuses of the University, and a reference against which all future development proposals and decisions can be assessed.

These principles are intended remain valid over time regardless of changes in response to the physical, political or funding environment within the University.

While some objectives and planning principles specifically relate to the physical design or arrangement of the built environment, others are more “organisational” in nature but have been included as part of this document as they, if implemented, will have major implications for the location of activities within the campuses.

This document is the result of 12 months of planning work undertaken by Campus Infrastructure Services (CIS) to review the 1990 University Strategy Plan prepared by Conybeare Morrison and Partners.

The limited review of the 1990 University Strategy Plan commenced with the work undertaken by the design firm MGT Architects in 2001, which was engaged by CIS to assist in undertaking a siting study for the development of a new Faculty of Law Building and a new building for the School of Information Technologies, within a limited review of the 1990 University Strategy Plan.

On the basis of this work and the issues raised by this limited study, the focus of the commission was expanded to include an identification of future development sites within the whole of the campus environment (both Camperdown and Darlington campuses). By expanding the focus of the study, opportunities to address a range of issues and accommodation pressures were recognised and presented to the University.

The results of the study were presented to the wider University community for comment and prior to proceeding with more detailed planning and any decision-making regarding the recommendations made. To facilitate this feedback, information was published on a dedicated University website and a public exhibition of the proposals was made during mid-2002. Community feedback was collected and reviewed by CIS and subsequently issued to the Capital Development Program Co-ordinating Group and the Campus 2010 Steering Committee as well as to Senate.

The outcome of the joint CIS / MGT study was two-fold.

First, the opportunities identified and tested within the study sponsored the development of the Campus 2010 + Building for the Future Program. The investigations allowed the University to identify five major building initiatives to address a multitude of long-standing issues, and presented opportunities to upgrade significantly the public domain through the relocation of surface parking.

CIS, with the assistance of a specialist consultant, Capital Insight, subsequently undertook the preparation of a Project Definition Plan for the program which was approved by Senate in March 2003. Implementation of the program has begun, with all projects scheduled for completion by 2008.

Second, the study demonstrated a need for an underpinning planning framework to guide the future planning of the Camperdown and Darlington Campuses and to take advantage of the opportunities identified. While many components of the framework existed, most resided as part of the corporate knowledge within CIS and select committees involved in the planning process.

The demonstration of how such a framework supported the University of Sydney Strategic Plan and aimed to facilitate the continual improvement of the campus environment and physical resources needed to support the core business of teaching, research and engagement with the community was also recognised.

As a result, CIS undertook the task of developing an overarching document that would provide the necessary planning framework, building on the good work undertaken by Conybeare Morrison in 1990 and MGT Architects in 2001 and the community feedback received in 2002.

CIS set out to develop a user-friendly document that explained in a straightforward way, supported by graphic and photographic material, how the University intends to develop and maintain the Camperdown and Darlington campuses.

The document deliberately avoids trying to predict a design solution or particular response; rather it clearly identifies the planning parameters about which the University has a strong view, and within which design solutions for the University’s campus and building needs must be solved.

For the purposes of this planning document, the campus is defined as: 1) Areas described as the Camperdown campus, which is the portion of the University site bounded by Parramatta Road to the north, Victoria Park to the east, City Road to the south-east, St Paul’s, Wesley, Women’s and St. Andrew’s Colleges to the south, and by the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, as well as St. John’s and Sancta Sophia Colleges, to the west. 2) Areas described as the Darlington campus, which is the portion of the University site bounded by Cleveland Street to the north, Shepherd Street to the east, Lander and Abercrombie Streets, as well as the Darlington Public School to the south and City Road to the north-west. 3) The University properties on the northern side of Parramatta Road, which include the Mackie and Margaret Telfer Buildings, Medical Foundation Building, Laurel Tree House and Selle House. 4) The University properties on the southern side of Carillon Avenue including the Sydney University village.

Driver 1: Enhancing the campus environment

Driver 2: Engaging the community

Driver 3: Supporting academic excellence