Macquarie Park Education Campus

MBM Project Lead

Autumn Lu

Client Name

School Infrastructure NSW

Sector

Timeline

2024 – Ongoing

Project Value

$278m

MBM Project Team

  • David Madden

Services Provided

MBM is providing end-to-end cost management services, spanning the full project lifecycle—from early-stage master planning and concept design through to tender evaluation, construction delivery, and post-completion financial oversight.

Project Background and Scope

The Macquarie Park Education Precinct (MPEC) was announced in 2018 as part of a broader $6.7 billion regional infrastructure initiative aimed at addressing the growing educational needs in the region. MPEC is a key component of the School Catchment Group (SCG) and is designed to meet the demand driven by population growth and housing developments in the area. The goal is to enhance student outcomes by providing state-of-the-art, fit-for-purpose learning spaces.
MPEC is designed as a large-scale urban education facility with the potential for up to eight-storeys. The FBC scope for MPEC includes:
• A new primary school for up to 1,012 students with 44 learning spaces.
• A new high school for up to 2,020 students with 101 learning spaces.
• A new 60-child preschool to cater to early childhood education needs.
The facilities will include indoor and outdoor sports courts and play spaces, general and specialist classrooms, multipurpose hall, canteen and administration facilities.

Project Challenges

The MPEC project presented a range of complex challenges, notably the integration of multiple education streams—preschool, primary, and secondary—each with distinct requirements. The vertical nature of the development, spanning multiple storeys, introduced further complexity in terms of circulation, compliance, and structural coordination. Additionally, the project required engagement with a diverse group of stakeholders, including government agencies, educational authorities, community representatives, and delivery partners, each with unique priorities and expectations.

MBM Solutions

To effectively mitigate these challenges, MBM leveraged benchmarking insights from comparable multi-stream education precincts across New South Wales, enabling the team to establish realistic cost parameters and anticipate scope-specific risks. Value engineering strategies were applied throughout the design and planning phases to optimise functionality while maintaining budget discipline. MBM also incorporated targeted cost allowances for vertical-specific elements—such as lift systems, fire egress, acoustic separation, and rooftop play areas—to ensure compliance and operational efficiency. Additionally, MBM facilitated structured stakeholder workshops to align scope expectations, clarify budget constraints, and foster collaborative decision-making, ensuring transparency and trust throughout the project lifecycle.