MASTER PLAN EVOLUTION
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)
J S D A has a history of serving corporate and college campuses on select projects for over 25 years and has completed over 8 million square feet for large institutions. J S D A was retained by Mission Aviation Fellowship to provide an updated evaluation of a Campus Master Plan and the master planning process by interviews with the MAF Executive Leadership Team and Design Committee to ascertain new goals in a changing demographic and budgeting landscape; and in anticipation of the organization undergoing new leadership. Baby-boomers are retiring and Millennials are being recruited, shifting the culture and operations. The purpose of the interview process was to provide follow-up to MAF’s Campus Housing Survey, an internal online survey to ensure stakeholders within the college were provided with every information point required. The Campus Expansion Plan was then generated reflecting a new vision for MAF’s six-acre site.
The ELT spent much time in prayer and deliberation regarding turning this new page in MAF’s future identifying the right time to move forward. Concurrently, the exploration of the acquisition of adjacent property had changed, shifting the possibilities for expanding the current campus footprint.
The MAF vision for the project is one of community. MAF desires that additions to their campus will foster a greater sense of connection and community between HQ staff, candidates, pre-fielders, missionary kids, furloughing staff, volunteers, and other visitors. Common spaces for fun, fellowship, learning, and sharing coffee and meals will be an important element of the plan.
J S DA’s planning process is strategically highly collaborative and detailed in nature. It offers a generous and open system of opportunities for input from stakeholders. To accomplish this, J S D A relies on its design team to develop a communication data tracking system and analyze the findings. Additionally supporting the collaborative process are on-campus meetings for reporting progress and securing input through meetings with the ELT, and the Design Team and a broad-based coalition with representation from all segments of the campus community. On-campus and online open forums ensure that all stakeholders within the campus community can view plans in progress and in provide input while the master planning evolves.
J S D A works closely with each of the stakeholder groups to develop conceptual spaces that reflect their specific needs. A formal needs assessment: interviews, focus groups, a study of visitor demographic data, along with a global staff survey were conducted. The following elements are included as part of J S D A‘s development of a Strategic Master Plan for MAF:
- History of the Organization/Campus
- Update to Campus Site Plan
- Update Geological Site Plan and Utility Infrastructure
- Environmental View: Identify historic trends and key user characteristics with regard to gender, age and ethnic distribution, span of scheduling preferences, training load distribution and future programming directions
- Stakeholder Interviews and Strategic Planning Summary
- Future Training Plans: Enrollment growth, class sections, weekly and seasonal hours are used as the basis for the determination of future instructional space needs
- Future Space Needs: Determine spatial capacity needs for the future, in year increments as identified appropriate by the institution
- Integrated Planning Diagrams
- Research-based Recommendations
J S D A collaborates on projects where the Campus elects to produce certain elements of the plan internally while seeking consulting services from J S D A to develop specific sections of the Master Plan. Our designers work closely with each of our clients to ensure the scope of work reflects the needs of the campus and to identify an approach that maximizes the existing resources of the Campus.
The areas of focus included the review of housing to serve a pressing need for additional and larger apartment units to meet current and future needs, particularly families with children.The potential relocation of housing units and addition of a Family Activity Center will foster community and the development of relationships, while providing added convenience. Children are a common sight at MAF’s Campus headquarters. Almost 30%of the total number of people on campus is children of all ages. Dedicated space for their care, activities and safety is required. This need is culturally central to the long-term goals of nurturing strong missionary families including spaces for childcare, learning and play.
Master planning documents included the schematic review of a revised master plan, conceptual footprint studies, and studies with alternate location options for the Family Activity Center. Further development included schedule and budgeting overviews, with tariff impacts affecting structural material choices.
With MAF’s commitment to increasing the depth and scope of training within their organization, capacity for meeting and training is to be expanded. Current facilities: auditoriums, classrooms and meeting rooms are not accommodating the needs. The spaces must be equipped properly for global communication technology. Approximately 1,000 people visit campus each year. Many visitors are the next generation of MAF staff and supporters. The master plan included an interactive museum/education space, which tells the MAF story: past, present and future, which will inspire many to join the organization.
Our strategic master planning lead to the conceptual design of the next development on campus, the Family Activity Center, with scaled planning documentation supported by renderings, which are being used for major fundraising. A Lodge to house executives, pilots and families for short-term housing was also ideated. This campus expansion project is in its early stages but MAF is already excited about how it will shape their future.
