Planning

We turn aspiration into reality.

Our plans don’t sit on the shelf. We work closely with you to vision, define goals and chart pathways that are achievable, sustainable, and future-focussed.

Ice Age Fossils State Park

A paleontological and historical trove

As part of the state’s “Explore Your Nevada Initiative”, Haley Sharpe was invited to create a masterplan and vision for the new 315-acre Ice Age Fossils State Park in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Now open to the public, the park features an interpretive visitor centre and walking trails that immerse visitors of all ages and abilities in the landscape and story of the Ice Age.

Less than 20 minutes from the Las Vegas strip, Ice Age Fossils State Park showcases visible fragments of the prehistoric past. Visitors can walk the trails amid the desert landscape, see paleontologists in action, and get a close-up view of the largest collection of Pleistocene fossils in the Southwest.

As a new park, the visioning process started from scratch. Collaborating with the Parks Department and local subject matter experts, we workshopped ideas to imagine what the site could be. It quickly became clear that the team needed to dream big.

Creating the Vision Document allowed for parallel strategic and interpretive planning, and concept design. Combining these processes, we created a holistic plan that addressed immediate and longer-term goals. The approach allowed for an easy transition through future phases – exhibit design, media development, and trail development.

Ice Age Fossils State Park is a primarily interpretive experience. The visitor centre exhibit introduces the grounds as a fun and informative experience, and the trails tell the stories “where they happened” – both in the deep time of paleontological history, and the more recent ‘research and big dig’ history.

Cliffs of Moher 2040 Masterplan

A sustainable return to the wild

With over 1.5 million visitors per year, the Cliffs of Moher is one of Ireland’s favourite visitor experiences. Leading a multidisciplinary consulting team, we undertook an expansive placemaking and masterplanning project to establish a long-term strategy that will reimagine the visitor offer and identity of this iconic destination over the next twenty years.

Towering over the west Clare coast and stretching for nearly 8 kilometres, the cliffs were formed over 360 million years ago. Today, they are part of The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.

Collaborative workshops with a variety of stakeholders and project partners helped to bring the strategy for Cliffs of Moher into focus. Open dialogue and creative exploration cultivated a unified concept that supports the site’s key strengths: an iconic locale, connection to an evolving natural landscape, and an open and welcoming experience.

The visitor experience prioritises exhilarating encounters with the cliffs and immersion in their untamed nature through a network of safe graded walks and ‘over the edge’ viewing points. Expanded signage, audio-visual displays and targeted event packages will allow visitors to ‘read’ the clues hidden within each layer of ancient rock, while connecting them emotionally with the landscape’s rich cultural legacy.

Sustainability is at the heart of the cliffs’ masterplan; from interpretive content focusing on the site’s vulnerable habitats and their rehabilitation, to new off-site transport hubs alleviating pressure on existing parking facilities, to a revitalised F&B and retail offer promoting seasonal local produce. The comprehensive strategy sees a transformed offer unfold across a rewilded landscape, which significantly enhances the biodiversity value while achieving tangible benefits for local communities.

“This exciting blueprint delivers for local communities, the environment, and visitors to Clare.”

Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council

Watford Heritage Hub

Reimagining and revitalising community storytelling

Watford’s new museum in the Town Hall will provide a fresh, accessible experience to showcase the town’s diverse and rich heritage. As part of the ongoing transformation, we led early consultancy services, bid writing, and interpretive design services from initial feasibility through to delivery of a successful Heritage Fund bid.

The museum’s collections relate to the town and Borough of Watford from prehistoric times to the present day. The new museum will showcase more of the collection whilst letting locals share their lived experiences in the town.

Creative consultation with the local community, schools, organizations, and stakeholders shaped the design and content of the exhibitions and supported activity proposal development, ensuring an inclusive offer that meets audience needs.

Innovative thinking and visioning drove financial and organisational planning from the start. Working collaboratively with the client team, the site was designed to maximise revenue potential to support long-term sustainability.