Master Planning 101
Buildings, campuses, districts and towns are always changing. They grow, shrink, and grow again. New leadership brings new priorities. Some places change over decades; others over centuries.
In every case, future generations depend on the current generation to set the stage for their success. It’s an ongoing, cyclical responsibility.
So, whether you’re a City Council member, the chair of the local school board, a University president, or something in between, the question is:
How will you make informed, forward-thinking decisions for the next generation of users? How will you make your place the best it can be?
At CO-OP, we understand that planning goes beyond the physical aspects of your place today, so we create a long-term, integrated plan that satisfies a range of needs and goals – physical, financial, and strategic.
Our Planners
Our Planners
Tom Hurlbert, AIA
Founding Principal
Kyle Raph, AIA
Founding Principal
Jason Kann, ALEP
Associate Principal
Tom Oster, Ed.S.
Planner
Todd Abrahamson, M.Ed.
Planner
Justin Kautz, ALEP
Associate Planner
Tom Hurlbert, AIA
Founding Principal
Kyle Raph, AIA
Founding Principal
Jason Kann, ALEP
Associate Principal
Tom Oster, Ed.S.
Planner
Todd Abrahamson, M.Ed.
Planner
Justin Kautz, ALEP
Associate Planner
Our Process
Project Launch
This kickoff meeting helps us understand the client’s vision for the master plan. We introduce master planning, review what we already know, and engage the Steering Committee in some exercises to get the wheels turning. We then take a tour with members of the Steering Committee.
What We Have
This phase establishes existing conditions and informs decisions going forward. We download as much information as possible related to the facility, campus, or community in question.
What We Need
This phase gathers input from various user groups and aims to achieve consensus on a path forward before moving into Phase 4. We review Phase 2 findings, identify existing issues via user group workshops, prioritize existing issues and goals for improvement, and test-fit site & floor plan solutions.
How We Get There
This phase creates a comprehensive roadmap for the future, tying together everything we’ve learned throughout the planning process. We produce site and floor plan concepts within the framework of an implementation plan that considers approximate costs and phasing. The final deliverable is a printed master plan book and map for the client, plus an executive summary for stakeholder communication. We facilitate at least one public presentation as well.
Our Process
Project Launch
This kickoff meeting helps us understand the client’s vision for the master plan. We introduce master planning, review what we already know, and engage the Steering Committee in some exercises to get the wheels turning. We then take a tour with members of the Steering Committee.
What We Have
This phase establishes existing conditions and informs decisions going forward. We download as much information as possible related to the facility, campus, or community in question.
What We Need
This phase gathers input from various user groups and aims to achieve consensus on a path forward before moving into Phase 4. We review Phase 2 findings, identify existing issues via user group workshops, prioritize existing issues and goals for improvement, and test-fit site & floor plan solutions.
How We Get There
This phase creates a comprehensive roadmap for the future, tying together everything we’ve learned throughout the planning process. We produce site and floor plan concepts within the framework of an implementation plan that considers approximate costs and phasing. The final deliverable is a printed master plan book and map for the client, plus an executive summary for stakeholder communication. We facilitate at least one public presentation as well.
Our Clients
Our Clients
Aberdeen Public School District
Agar-Blunt-Onida School District
Belle Fourche School District
Black Hills State University
Bon Homme School District
Brookings Public School District
Burke School District
Canistota School District
City of Eagle Butte
City of Sioux Center
City of Sioux Falls
Clark Public School District
Dacotah Bank
Douglas School District
Dupree School District
Elkton Public School District
Faulkton Area School District
Florence Public School District
Fort Sisseton State Park
Groton Area School District
Hermosa School District
Hillcrest Development
Lake Area Technical College
Lower Brule Schools
Marion Public School District
Mount Marty University
Northern Electric Cooperative
Northern State University
Oglala Lakota County School District
Pope Pius XII Newman Center
Presentation College
Rapid City Area School District
Sisseton Public School District
South Dakota School of Mines & Technology
South Dakota State University
State of South Dakota
St. Thomas More School
Watertown Public School District
West Central School District
Western Dakota Technical College
West Lyon Community School
White River Public School District
Willow Lake Public School District
Wounded Knee School District
Aberdeen Public School District
Belle Fourche School District
Black Hills State University (BHSU)
City of Sioux Center – 300 Block
City of Sioux Falls – Riverline District
Clark Public School District
Elkton Public School
Faulkton Area Schools
Fort Sisseton State Park
Friends & Citizens 2024: Eagle Butte
Friends & Citizens 2025: Hillcrest Development
Groton Area School District
Lake Area Technical College (LATC)
Lower Brule Schools
Marion Public School District
Mount Marty University
Northern State University (NSU)
Rapid City Area Schools
Sisseton School District – Ben Reifel Gym
South Dakota Mines
South Dakota State University (SDSU)
State of South Dakota – Capitol Complex
Watertown School District
West Lyon Community School