Expression of Interest - University Space Planner - Campus Master Plan

1. INTRODUCTION

The University of Sydney is commencing an update of its Camperdown-Darlington Campus Master Plan to guide the next generation of campus transformation, and ensure the campus continues to evolve in alignment with the Universitys strategic vision, operational needs, and community aspirations.

The Campus Master Plan (CMP) will establish a strategic plan and series of campus-wide strategies that integrate campus experience, public realm, building and space planning, innovation and enterprise, development and capital investment planning with academic purpose, sustainability, community impact and cultural values.

Why a new master plan is needed

The Universitys previous Campus Improvement Program (CIP) 2014-2020 enabled over $1.3 billion of transformational infrastructure development over the last 10 years. While the pandemic-induced infrastructure pause extended the life of the CIP, it is now out of date and a new strategic direction for campus evolution is needed.

Since the CIPs inception, the University has undergone significant transformation - accelerated student growth, evolving pedagogical models, increased diversity, heightened expectations around sustainability, inclusion, and civic engagement, and the emergence of Tech Central. External factors such as climate change, geopolitical shifts, and data/digital acceleration further underscore the need for a new master plan with a future-focused planning approach.

The new CMP also needs to address critical challenges including deficits in teaching spaces, ageing infrastructure, and low student experience metrics; plus prepare for a resilient future with a Country-centred, sustainable, and inclusive approach.

Master Plan Aspiration (to be refined as part of the Campus Master Plan process)

The CMP is a long-range aspirational plan guiding student experience and place transformation, and ongoing campus development. It will also be a flexible and practical framework for sustainable growth to enable the Universitys academic purpose and strategic plan, address critical challenges and accommodate future change. This will include the following, and more:

A transformed student experience across all dimensions

- Leading-practice teaching and learning facilities

- A range of University-operated student accommodation

- New student-focused and mixed-use building typologies and live/learn facilities

- Enhanced campus connections (within and beyond) physically, socially and digitally

- A vibrant campus experience with enhanced social belonging and wellbeing

A Country-led, reimagined and regenerated public realm

- An embedded Country-centred approach

- New community green spaces and regenerating public realm

- Programmed cultural and community activation and placemaking, within renewed public spaces

- A sustainable and resilient campus

Enabled excellence in research, innovation and partnerships

- Leading practice research facilities

- Optimised space and workplace planning

- Integrated capital investment, development and asset planning for sustainable development

- New co-investment, co-location, collaboration and commercialisation initiatives

- New industry, community and civil partnerships for shared impact

Refer Appendix A for the Camperdown-Darlington boundary and study area.

Program Scope and Workstreams

The Campus Master Plan program scope will comprise a range of campus-wide strategies - many of which are interdependent - across three major workstreams:

Workstream #1 Public Realm and Infrastructure

Workstream #2 Building and Space Planning

Workstream #3 Development, Enterprise and Funding

2. UNIVERSITY SPACE PLANNER - Workstream #2 Building and Space Planning

The University is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced consultants to be considered for the subsequent Request for Tender (RFT) stage.

International firmsare welcome to submit in partnership with Australian firms.

Three other Campus Master Plan EOI processes are running concurrently, and consultants are encouraged to review all.

3. PROCUREMENT PROCESS

This procurement will be conducted as a two-stage selection process:

Expression of Interest (EOI) - to identify suitably experienced and capable consultant teams.

Request for Tender (RFT) - to be issued to shortlisted respondents.

The Procurement Approach for the Campus Master Plan program across ALL three major workstreams, is outlined in Appendix B.

4. PURPOSE OF THIS EOI The purpose of this EOI is to invite suitably qualified and experienced consultants to submit their interest in being considered for a future Request for Tender procurement process - to be appointed as Campus Master Plan Workstream #2 University Space Planner.

The objectives of this EOI are to:

Identify innovative and leading practice companies with the capacity, expertise, and resources to deliver a range of strategies, plans and outcomes for the Campus Master Plan.

- Engage with the market, inviting the market to shape the optimal consultant team structure with lead, sub consultant and/or standard consultants (i.e. procured/managed by the University) to deliver optimal deliverables and outcomes.

- Engage with the market, inviting innovative expertise, approaches, processes and technologies across all disciplines relevant to a global leading practice university master plan.

Promote fair, transparent, and competitive procurement practices in line with the Universitys procurement policy.

Establish a shortlist of qualified consultant teams for invitation to the RFT.

5. WORKSTREAM #2 - CONSULTANT TEAM AND STRUCTURE

The indicative Workstream #2 Consultant Team is outlined in Table 1 in attached EOI document. These disciplines, their engagement type (Lead Consultant, Sub-consultant, or Standard Consultant), and sourcing strategy may evolve as the Program progresses and in response to market feedback.

The University requires EOI responses to include a complying consultant team structure aligned with Table 1. For example, in this EOI providing the Space Planner details, as a standard consultant.

Respondents are welcome to propose additional disciplines or alternate engagement types as a non-complying submission - provided that the alternative approach demonstrably supports the Universitys Master Plan aspiration. Non-complying proposals must also include company names per discipline. The University reserves the right to accept or decline any non-complying EOI submission.

6. SCOPE OF WORKS

All Workstream #2 consultants are required to meet required timelines, complete progress reports, coordinate with other consultants, deliver high quality deliverables and advice, and present to University staff and executives as required. This will be further articulated in the RFT process.

Deliverables as University Space Planner

To develop and deliver the following plans, advice and associated reports. This indicative list may be updated for the RFT:

Space Utilisation Audit (including optimisation and smart systems integration)

Campus-wide Space Planning Strategy and Principles

Teaching Space Strategy

Faculty and School Needs Analysis and Requirements

Faculty and School Demand/Space Modelling

Faculty/School 10-Year Space Plans

Input into the overarching Campus Master Plan

Other as required.

All deliverables must be supported by a consolidated data environment (data lake concept) that integrates Archibus, scheduling systems, IoT sensors, and smart building platforms for:

- Real-time utilisation analysis

- Predictive modelling

- Agile reporting aligned with TEFMA benchmarks and sustainability principles.

Coordination

The consultant must coordinate with Workstream #2 consultants and other workstream consultants as required.

University Engagement

Under the direction of the internal Program Management team and Engagement Consultant, the Workstream #2 University Space Planner will engage across the University community via a range of engagement and communication channels. This will be further articulated in the RFT process.

7. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Respondents are requested to submit:

- A completed EOI Response Form by copying the following link into your browser: Expression of Interest - University Space Planner - Campus Master Plan – Fill out form

The EOI response form addresses:

• Supplier information
• Capability
• University compliance (including company profile)

- Expanded responses requested in the EOI form, which need to be submitted into the allocated TenderBox, including the following:

• Discipline capability: Demonstrated capability as an University Space Planner, providing relevant and specific examples of similar and exemplary work in a complex institutional setting
• Innovation and value proposition: Innovative methods, technologies and processes relevant to a global leading practice university master plan
• Approach, methodology, and timeline

8. PROGRAM TIMING

The University requires theCampus Master Plan to be delivered in 2026. This will be followed by a more detailed 10-year Place & Development Plan in 2027 (a future scope, which is not part of this submission). The indicative timeframes for engagement of this contract are as follows:

Activity

Estimated Date

EOI opens: 25 November 2025

EOI closes: 22 December 2025

Shortlisting and notification: February 2026

Request for Tender (RFT) release: February 2026

Contract commencement: March / April 2026

Please note:

- This EOI is not a request for a formal tender or proposal, but it is a prerequisite for progressing to the Request for Tender stage. University of Sydney reserves the right to accept or reject any EOI submission at its discretion.

- The University will not be holding an EOI briefing. The University campus is generally accessible for inspections, whilst certain buildings may have restricted access.

For any queries or support please contact Fred Bengtsson on fredrik.bengtsson@sydney.edu.au

Kind regards,

Fred Bengtsson

The University of Sydney: One of Australias top universities