How long does a school playground project take?
There is no single standard timeframe for a school playground project.
The program depends on the size and complexity of the project, design requirements, procurement, approvals, site conditions, material lead times and construction itself.
The important point is that construction is only one part of the project timeline.
What happens before construction?
A school project can involve:
- identifying the need
- understanding the site
- establishing priorities
- selecting a project direction
- stakeholder consultation
- design and documentation
- approvals and procurement
- ordering materials
- construction
- inspection and handover
A relatively straightforward project with a well-defined scope can move through these stages much more efficiently than a project that is repeatedly reconsidered.
What commonly extends the program?
One of the biggest causes of lost time is unresolved decision-making.
Projects can slow down because of:
- unclear scope
- changing priorities
- repeated redesign
- unresolved budgets
- stakeholder disagreement
- site conditions discovered late
- procurement requirements
- specialist approvals
- long-lead materials
Some of these issues cannot be avoided, but many can be reduced through earlier planning.
Why does a defined solution help?
Starting from a resolved project direction reduces the number of decisions that have to be made from scratch. This is part of the thinking behind Playform for Schools.
Rather than beginning every project with a blank sheet, Playform provides pre-designed environments that can be matched to the school, site and desired outcomes. That can reduce unnecessary design drift while still allowing the project to respond to its context.
Should schools wait until funding is available?
Not necessarily. A school can do much of the thinking before it is ready to proceed.
Understanding the problem, site, priorities and desired outcome can make later conversations about funding, procurement and delivery considerably easier. The ULP School Planning Guide was developed to help schools do exactly that.
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About Urban Landscape Projects
Urban Landscape Projects designs and builds outdoor environments for schools and childcare centres across Greater Sydney. We have operated since 1990, with more than 35 years of experience, 1,100+ completed projects and 30+ industry awards. We work with schools and childcare operators from planning and design through to construction and handover.
Published by Urban Landscape ProjectsSchools guidance, part of the ULP Knowledge Centre.