Ahmedabad University is incredibly proud to announce that the University Centre, crafted by Stephane Paumier Architects, has been awarded the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) International Award for Excellence 2024. These awards are renowned worldwide for honoring exceptional architectural achievements that showcase outstanding design, visionary innovation, and meaningful societal contributions.
As per the RIBA jury, the University Centre at Ahmedabad University, part of a distinguished cohort of winners spanning 14 countries, serves as a striking gateway bridging the university with the historic city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. Designed to foster intellectual exchange, informal gatherings, and community events, the Centre is one of three notable buildings alongside the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering and Applied Science that encircle a central landscaped park. Within the Centre, facilities include incubation spaces, student services, a food court, versatile areas for sports, performances, and cinema, complemented by a rooftop running track and futsal court.
Articulating the spirit behind the building, Ahmedabad University Vice-Chancellor Professor Pankaj Chandra says, "Academic buildings provide a perspective on how educational institutions define their engagement with the purpose and soul of the institution - the building of a student's mind, its values and their inter-relationship, as well as the space for imagination by its faculty...The amazing University Centre sends a message that vibrant and meaningful learning outside the classroom must complement that inside. This is what transformative education is about! This is the value of academic buildings and their architecture".
The RIBA awards are decided through a rigorous process by a jury chaired by Simon Henley of the award-winning London-based architecture practice Henley Halebrown. Each selected project is visited in person by an expert designated as a RIBA Local Ambassador. All the RIBA winners are considered for the RIBA International Prize for the world's most transformative new building.
Established in 2009, Ahmedabad University stands as a prominent private, non-profit research institution dedicated to providing students with a liberal education that emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, practical application, and research-driven thinking. Rooted in the vision of the esteemed Ahmedabad Education Society, founded in 1935 by nationalist leaders, the university offers a diverse range of programs spanning from undergraduate to doctoral levels. These programs encompass humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and management disciplines, facilitated across its 12
Ahmedabad University, situated in an urban setting, fosters independence and embraces diversity in all aspects of its operations. It cultivates students into critical thinkers who possess analytical skills, practical orientation, and global awareness. The university offers a modern educational framework that integrates liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies to generate innovative solutions for societal challenges. Its interdisciplinary majors prepare students for the evolving economy by bridging disciplinary boundaries and promoting collaborative learning.
