Located within Chandigarh University’s 23-acre academic campus in Gharuan, this 8733-square-metre, multi-utility student centre accommodates over 7000 users by integrating a cafeteria, library and guest house within a single built form. Conceived as a response to evolving FAR and institutional needs, the project consolidates previously independent programs into a unified architectural expression.

The building is defined by two rotated triangular prisms interlocked with a cuboid, eliminating a singular façade and instead orienting itself towards the central amphitheatre plaza. This geometry creates shaded overhangs, semi-covered interaction spaces and a porous ground plane that blurs boundaries between inside and outside.

Functionally, the structure is vertically zoned – student commons at the lower levels, a double-height library at the centre and a guest house above – ensuring both integration and operational independence. A central courtyard and multiple access points enhance circulation, daylight and ventilation.

Rooted in regional materiality, the use of exposed brick, sandstone and jaalis fosters a tactile and climatically responsive environment. The project redefines institutional infrastructure as a dynamic, mixed-use social condenser, encouraging movement, interaction,and community within an academic setting.

Photography: Javier Callejas