Master Planning

Strategic, Long-Range Planning for Complex Sites

Master planning answers the big questions: How will a campus, installation, or community grow over time? How will the infrastructure keep pace? What gets built first, and how does funding shape the sequence? These decisions set the foundation for everything that follows.

We tackle these challenges for federal agencies like the DoD, NASA, DOE, and USACE, as well as research campuses, healthcare facilities, and large-scale community developments. No matter the setting, the core questions remain the same: what needs to happen, in what order, and what will it take to get there.

Merrick’s planning approach translates mission priorities into actionable, fundable development plans. We align stakeholders around a shared vision, integrate real-world site conditions, and identify constraints and opportunities early to reduce risk and keep implementation on track. The result is planning that supports mission readiness, resiliency, and long-term performance in compliance-driven environments.

Our process begins with vision and stakeholder alignment, followed by analysis of site conditions, infrastructure capacity, and operational requirements. From there, we develop installation and area development plans, facility assessments, and phased implementation strategies that integrate with asset management systems and account for complex funding requirements. Each recommendation is supported by clear assumptions and traceable rationale to aid decision-making.

Effective planning depends on asking the right questions and working from reliable data. We combine advanced analytical tools with collaborative processes to create execution-ready plans that guide next steps.

Our planning process includes:

• Data collection: Using GIS, lidar, and traditional surveys, we build a foundation of precise, usable information.
• Collaboration: Through charrettes and workshops, we align diverse perspectives to ensure plans are practical and achievable.
• Execution-ready plans: Every plan is designed to integrate with next steps — funding, detailed design, and construction.

Key planning documents we provide include:

• Installation and campus master plans
• Area Development Plans (ADP)
• Planning Charrette Reports (PCR)
• Facility Condition Assessments (FCA)
• Basic Facility Requirements (BFR)
• DD Form 1391 preparation for MILCON and FSRM
• Space and facility utilization studies
• Resiliency and emergency management planning
• Laboratory and healthcare medical master planning

Our services include:

• Federal installations
  • Tailored master plans
  • Infrastructure strategies
  • Facility planning and design assessments
• Community and campus planning
  Designing for growth, sustainability, and long-term usability for academic institutions and municipalities

• Energy and utilities
  Resilient plans for water and wastewater systems, power facilities, national laboratories, and critical infrastructure that support future energy needs