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Thapar University Learning Centre
Thapar Learning Centre: Merging Legacy with Visionary Design
Strong, commanding attention and resilient—these are attributes that metaphor Punjab in all its greatness. For Thapar University, these characteristics run deeper than the façade; they are embedded into the very DNA of the campus’ architectural identity.
When the university’s leadership set out to accommodate 15,000 students, they envisioned an expansion that would elevate Thapar among India’s top academic institutions. Architects Valerie Mulvin of McCullough Mulvin Architects and Sohrab Dalal of Designplus Architecture were invited to collaborate on a bold 250-acre campus master plan. The brief, as outlined by the university chairman, was simple yet powerful: “Build an environment that inspires the next generation of students.”
Project Type | Educational |
Project Name : | Learning Centre |
Location : | Patiala |
Client Name: | Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, (TIET), Patiala |
Principal Architect & Designer: | McculloughMulvin Architects & Designplus Architecture. |
Design Team : | Valerie Mulvin, Ruth O’Herlihy, Sohrab Dalal, Sonali Nandi |
The result is a transformative educational space, designed not only for learning but for cultivating creativity, community, and reflection. From the start, the design team was welcomed to experiment, propose bold ideas, and infuse meaning into the built form—setting the tone for a future-forward campus that respects its cultural and geographic context.
The new additions comprising the Learning Laboratory, Computer Science Building, Lecture Theatres, and Library—are grounded in robust geometric forms, all wrapped in bold red Agra stone. The façades are animated by louvred stone screens inspired by traditional jaali work, adding texture and depth while paying homage to Punjabi heritage. The interiors echo a language of raw concrete, creating a dialogue between the modern and the tactile.
Sculptural atriums carve into the massing, ushering in natural light and ventilation. These volumes break down the scale of the buildings while offering moments of drama, pause, and perspective. The buildings are arranged to foster fluid movement and layered experiences—encouraging not just learning but lingering, interacting, and introspecting.
A defining feature is the nine-meter-high podium that connects the major academic blocks. It becomes the social and functional spine of the campus, housing cafés, food outlets, and communal areas. Entirely shaded and naturally ventilated, this podium remains cool throughout much of the year and serves as an informal gathering space—underscoring the importance of interaction in the learning process.
The Learning Centre itself functions like an open-air theatre—an architectural gesture of openness and accessibility. It anchors the campus both spatially and conceptually, serving as a forum for exchange, events, and intellectual engagement. Within this academic enclave, hollowed-out green zones offer students and faculty quiet areas for rest and reflection, carefully interwoven into the built fabric.
Beyond its striking form, the campus is rooted in sustainable principles. Passive design strategies such as orientation, shading, and use of thermal mass are complemented by active systems like radiant cooling in the Library—a cutting-edge approach to energy efficiency in large public buildings. The campus includes rooftop trees, water features, and shaded gardens, all designed to counter Punjab’s intense climate and establish comfortable microclimates.
The design also prioritises inclusivity and accessibility. Wide pathways, integrated ramps, elevators, and clear visual navigation routes ensure that every user—regardless of physical ability—can experience the full campus equally. Connecting all parts of the development, central pergola walkways serve not only as thoroughfares but as shaded connectors that foster social cohesion and academic exchange.
Architect Sohrab Dalal highlights that the entire campus is designed with long-term growth in mind. The structure and spatial planning allow for seamless future expansion over the next decade, ensuring that the university remains responsive to evolving educational needs.
Even classrooms have been thoughtfully designed: protected from wind, filled with natural light, and equipped with tiered seating and technology integrations. Bright furniture in tones of red, orange, and yellow adds warmth and energy to the spaces, encouraging student engagement and comfort.
The architectural journey at Thapar University stands as a model for what progressive educational infrastructure can be—deeply rooted in heritage, thoughtfully modern, inclusive in spirit, and sustainable in execution. It is a compelling example of how design can shape not just space, but the experience and future of those who inhabit it.
Built upon a campus dating back to 1956, this evolution is not merely an addition of buildings—it’s a reimagining of what a university can stand for in the 21st century. With this transformation, Thapar University embraces its role as a modern learning ecosystem, one that’s primed to empower generations to come.
