Marcus Oldham College Horse Facilities Masterplan
Client: Marcus Oldham College
Location: Waurn Ponds, Victoria
Services: Property and facility masterplanning, Architectural design
We were invited by Marcus Oldham College to complete a masterplan and horse facilities to accommodate increasing enrolment numbers in their Horse Business Management course. They had outgrown their existing facilities, which were becoming unsafe. Bringing expertise in both equine and educational architecture, we developed a design solution that would best accommodate a horse business management curriculum.
The masterplan scope required the relocation of facilities onto a new site that would enable the integration of existing infrastructure with the new facilities. Our new design included a series of holding yards and day yards, teaching areas, a 24-horse stable suitable for student use, round yards, indoor and outdoor arenas, a lecture gallery and other amenities such as washes, tack rooms and storage areas. Additionally, education facilities, such as meeting rooms, a stable manager’s office, change rooms and bathroom amenities, were provided for approximately 25 students.
Throughout the planning process we worked with the College, the Horse Business Management Course Director, the Board of Trustees, and students to determine collective priorities. Having developed a report outlining key considerations of the site, we conducted briefings with stakeholders to ensure their accurate understanding of functional constraints that would drive elements of the design, including requirements such as water collection, reticulation systems and waste management initiatives.
Our masterplanning was informed by the existing topography, with Marcus Oldham campus developed along the brow of a hill, as well as existing infrastructure. There was one access road into the campus, traversing past the main building. Therefore, we planned for the new facilities to be positioned behind any existing buildings to best utilise space, and importantly, to distinguish public access to the campus buildings from the private access to new facilities, improving circulation. We also integrated an existing indoor arena to improve its functional relationship with the new facilities.
Beyond functionality, our design thinking was driven by our knowledge that at the heart of good education is engagement. This is manifested in the design through prioritising connection between facilities such as the viewing platform and day yards, centralising them within the layout.
Elsewhere we created efficiencies by compressing interstitial spaces between key facilities, to reduce drainage and services requirements. Our masterplan also included various multi-use areas, future proofing the site for further expansion.
A successful master plan that highlighted unanticipated opportunities to the stakeholder group, this project led to a request for us to design the new College stables, which comprised the first stage of the master plan. Our specialised knowledge saw us bring unique insight to this complex site and the result envisioned a more inspiring, efficient, functional and safer setting for students, and horses to enjoy and get the most out of their education experience.
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