Through collaboration with key staff at the School of Art, Facilities and Services, the Heritage Commission, and the NCA, the 2002/2003 Master Plan study defined several expansion scenarios. These scenarios considered issues such as meeting curriculum objectives and user needs, organisational relationships of facilities according to operational needs, timeframes for expansion, site and services considerations, heritage and context issues and the identification and analysis of suitable sites for development.

The study placed particular emphasis on the investigative phase, so that a long-term strategy for expansion at the master plan level was achieved. The primary aim of the study was to assist strategic planning within the school, and by Facilities and Services. Along with the Conservation Management Plan prepared by DJAS in conjunction with John Armes in 2000, this Master Plan document now forms part of the assessment framework for the National Capital Authority and the Heritage Commission as further expansion occurs within the school.