The project, to create a community leisure and lifestyle precinct offered all participants a rare and exciting opportunity to design and implement community infrastructure of distinction; to challenge the role and community perceptions of established institutions; and to create a series of ‘social products’ more aligned with the needs and aspirations of the community and therefore better used by it. Working initially for Lend Lease and ultimately for the former Pine Rivers Shire Council, the Institute’s role was both long term and multi-facetted, demonstrating our ultimate commitment to our clients and communities.
The development of Pathways was predicated on our understanding of the need to blend place, program and governance to secure the optimal long term outcomes for a community as well as acknowledgement of the importance of working with communities to explore and articulate their needs. The cutting edge primary and secondary research programme, informed a participatory design process that engaged with nine State and Federal Government departments and the Local Authority, as well as a community reference group – and still delivered the building within a commercial time frame.
The resulting Pathways Campus leveraged the initial seed capital of $3.8 million with external grant funding and third party contribution to deliver a $30 million facility that includes:
A significant component of the project was the development of tertiary and vocational training programs for the community using new educational formats and delivery mechanisms. This project also facilitated the development of networked relationships with both the Queensland and Federal Governments Departments of Education, Employment and Training.
Relevant Expertise
Needs assessment; concept development; stakeholder management and community engagement; primary research and data analysis; brief development; master planning and concept design; place branding and funding.