Known for asking the most “outside the box” questions since 2006, the last 20 years as a planner have served as an opportunity for Sam to shape and improve our spaces for the next. We’re excited to celebrate Sam’s achievements over the last two decades and dig into how they have shaped his time at Ratio.
Two projects immediately come to mind. The first was early on in my life at Ratio. It was for a single storey home in the Blackburn Lake environs. The proposal sought to demolish an existing double storey and construct a new home, so that the family would be able to care for their son who had a degenerative muscular disease. The new home would allow them to stay in place and conduct various levels of therapy for their son. While not a large project, it felt incredibly rewarding to receive the permit for the client, albeit at VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal).
The second is one I’m currently working on; CHORA is effectively an urban renewal project that seeks to repair and restore a monastery located in Northcote, by removing some 1960s interventions and restoring the beautiful heritage building. When approved, the project will re-open the grounds that have been closed to the public for over a century and create expansive open spaces. The heritage building will include a residential hotel, function centre, apartments, and a church. Surrounding the historical area will be an early learning centre, amphitheatre, restaurant, townhouses, and apartments. It’s a fantastic project that seeks to create active community spaces, and one that I think will be used by families for generations.
Planning is ultimately about shaping places for future generations, remembering that many of the developments delivered today are likely to be a part of our environment for the next 50-100 years. The best solution is not always the most popular one or the most obvious. So, if we only pursue popular ideas, we risk missing opportunities to create something genuinely fantastic for future generations.
In my view, it’s always important to challenge assumptions and test different perspectives – it’s a great way to learn and improve. Sometimes those ideas don’t lead anywhere and that’s okay, but they can also present opportunities or solutions that weren’t immediately apparent.
Seeing the evolution and growth of both the business and more importantly, the people within it.
Being part of the same industry for so long, and a large majority of that in the same organisation, I’ve had the benefit of watching talented town planners, traffic engineers, waste consultants and urban designers develop their careers, start families, buy their first home and grow as individuals. I’ve also seen mentors and leaders in the field retire.
There are always challenges in growth and improving our culture, our values and the service and quality of our work to our clients, while we’ve grown into a multidisciplinary practice of 120 people across Australia, has enabled us to retain what we value as an organisation: the people and communities we serve.
Don’t listen to anything David Crowder says. Just kidding! He has been a great mentor and even better friend over my 20 years at Ratio. I will always be indebted to him for his support and counsel.
But seriously, I would tell myself to enjoy the moment. As a planner, I’m constantly looking to the future: ways to improve, expand, and develop. Sometimes that was at the expense of enjoying the moment. Enjoy the moment!
Sam’s journey over the past 20 years clearly shows his dedication, ambition and thoughtfulness for the future of planning, the communities we serve, and the pursuit of exploring unpopular ideas.
Read more from Sam on why “You’ve got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette.”
