IIT Roorkee wins GRIHA Trophy at NASA for the design of terminal building at Bagdogra Airport

New Delhi: With an aim to promote the concept of green buildings, GRIHA Council had organised the GRIHA trophy during the 62nd edition of National Association of Students of Architecture Convention in Bengaluru. With the support of Airports Authority of India (AAI), the trophy was awarded to students from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee at a virtual felicitation ceremony. The Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee was awarded prize money of 75,000 rupees in Bengaluru.
Welcoming the audience and speakers, Mr. Sanjay Seth, CEO, GRIHA Council, said that the collaboration with National Association of Students of Architecture (NASA) for the GRIHA Trophy was essential to cultivate a sense of good passive design, understanding of local materials, integration of renewable energy and resource efficient planning among architectural students. While welcoming the dignitaries, he provided an insight into the collaborative efforts being taken with NASA to jointly promote the concept of green buildings and sustainable habitat through sensitisation of students.
Expressing his views on the collaboration, Sh. Anil Kumar Pathak, Member (Planning) Airports Authority of India said, “It is of utmost importance to inculcate an appreciation for sustainability in architecture students as they are the future of the construction industry. The trophy is an opportunity to explore sustainability strategies for the next generation of architects in collaboration with GRIHA, India’s own green building rating system.”
Expressing his views on the role of future architects, Ar. Habeeb Khan, President, Council of Architecture said, “Architects plays a very important role in Government’s various initiatives such as Smart Cities, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, MNREGA, Housing & Sanitation for all etc. apart from meeting the growing demand of Indian construction industry and private sector.Events likethe GRIHA Trophy provides them platforms to apply technically sound concepts to their designs while being creative as well.”
The intent was incorporating the latest thinking on sustainable design with capabilities to improve thermal and visual performance by using massing, solar orientation, wind movement, day lighting, passive cooling systemsaccording to the climatic conditions of Bagdogra. The growth of the real estate sector is intertwined with environment sustainability and therefore, certain environmental principle must be systematically integrated in design process to help achieve sustainable development.
Speaking on the need of encouraging the youth to design sustainably, Dr. Ajay Mathur, President, GRIHA Council and Director General, TERI, said that climate responsive design is the foundation of green buildings, which students get to explore through participation in the GRIHA Trophy. The trophy also inculcates a sense of sustainability in the architectural students who are the future of the construction industry.
The competition this year, witnessed an overwhelming response from the students with participation from 25 colleges. The entries were evaluated by an eminent panel comprising Ar. Sangeeta Mahay, General Manager, AAI, Ar. Gaurav Shorey, Founder & Managing Director, PSI & Ar. Shruti Dimri, Principal Architect, Anagram Architects.The designs were evaluated on innovation in architecture, sustainability, and innovative systems.
Besides IIT Roorkee (winner), 2 other institutes namely, MBS School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhiand National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappallireceived special mention for their respective designs and received prize money of 35,000 rupees each.