Before a single drawing of the Borneo Astronomy Centre (BAC) in Sarawak was made, its stakeholders needed to agree on something more fundamental: what the Centre is for. Virtual Reality Solutions was appointed as consultant at this formative, pre-design stage, and produced three Mission, Vision and Purpose (MVP) framework reports, one each for the Planetarium, the Exhibition and the Observatories. Together they establish the Institutional Purpose of the Centre.
Mission, Vision and Purpose: the foundation for everything else
The heart of the work was defining a distinct Mission, Vision and Purpose for each stakeholder and for each of the three components. These are the foundational pillars that now guide the Centre's:
- Governance – who the Centre serves and how decisions are made.
- Design – what the buildings, theatre and galleries must make possible.
- Programming – the shows, exhibitions, research and outreach the Centre will run.
A planetarium, an exhibition and a set of observatories each have a different job to do. Writing a separate Mission, Vision and Purpose for each one, and for each organisation involved, means every later decision can be checked against an agreed purpose, rather than against assumptions that were never written down.
Settling the purpose before design is the cheapest point in a project to get it right. Once a dome is built or a gallery is fitted out, changing what it is for is far more expensive.
Listening to every stakeholder
A centre like BAC is shaped by several organisations, each with its own mandate. We captured and brought together the strategic aspirations, operational mandates and cultural imperatives of all four principal stakeholders:
- Jabatan Mufti Sarawak – custodian
- i-CATS University College – operator
- Jabatan Kerja Raya – project implementor
- NBL Architects – project designer, including in-depth consultation on the Centre's design philosophy
Aligned with Sarawak's direction
The frameworks are embedded in the wider goals the Centre has to serve:
- Sarawak's Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030) and the Premier's vision of a thriving, inclusive and sustainable Sarawak.
- Sustainability targets, including Green Building Index (GBI) Gold certification.
- The principle of local data sovereignty under the MA63 framework.
Three components, three distinct roles
The Planetarium
Positioned as the Centre's public-facing flagship, reconciling Islamic astronomy (Falak) with world-class immersive science education.
The Exhibition
Shaped as an immersive, thematic visitor experience.
The Observatories
Defined as a regional platform for research, education and astronomy tourism, covering astronomy, satellite technology and aerospace data science.
What we delivered
Three MVP framework reports that give the Centre a decision-ready strategic foundation for its design, governance and programming:
- BAC Planetarium – 30 pages
- BAC Exhibition – 28 pages
- BAC Observatories – 31 pages
What comes next
The reports also set out the next phase: a socio-economic segmentation analysis, so the Centre's advisers and consultants can position and target Sarawak's distinct community groups.
Planning a centre of your own?
Whether you are starting a new planetarium, science centre or observatory, defining its purpose is the first step. Read our guide on how to plan a planetarium, or talk to us about where to begin.