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Designing Educational Spaces that Foster Community

byIMK ArchitectsTakes projects across India; Visit offices in Mumbai & BengaluruStarts from₹220 ₹ per sq. ft. of Built-up AreaView full gallery

We believe campuses should do more than teach—they should connect. Our educational projects blend natural light, climate-responsive design, and social spaces to create environments where students and faculty thrive.

The Sona University Library is conceived as a vertical campus, with a striking facade of glass, stone, and jali screens. The design stacks diverse functions, from the library and auditorium to residential floors, creating a vibrant academic and cultural hub for the university.

The double-height reading room at Sona University is bathed in natural northern light, creating an inspiring and comfortable environment for study. The tall windows and clean lines connect the interior with the surrounding landscape, promoting focus and well-being.

We believe architecture should facilitate human connection. Here at the Sona University Centre, the grand staircase seating provides a perfect spot for students to pause, engage in quiet conversations, and build the friendships that define the campus experience.

A full view of the multi-level staircase seating at Sona University, designed as an amphitheater-like space for social interaction. The large skylight above illuminates the area, making it a central point for student life and collaborative activities within the library block.

We are proud that our Sona University Centre and Library project was nominated for the ArchDaily Building of the Year Award. This recognition affirms our commitment to creating innovative educational spaces that foster community and dialogue.

The grand entrance of the Symbiosis University Hospital and Research Centre, shortlisted for the LOOP Design Awards. The design features a commanding brick facade and a sweeping canopy, creating a welcoming gateway that reflects the institution's stature.

We are honored to announce that the Symbiosis University Hospital and Research Centre won the LOOP Design Awards 2024 for Healthcare Architecture. This award is a testament to our team's dedication to creating impactful, human-centric healing spaces.

The entrance to Symbiosis International University in Pune, where exposed brick and structural steel create a modern yet grounded aesthetic. The wide, stepped plaza encourages students to gather, reflecting our design principle of fostering community from the moment of arrival.

Landscaped mounds and open plazas at Symbiosis International University are designed to break the monotony of built forms. These green spaces provide areas for relaxation and social interaction, integrating nature into the daily life of the campus.

This video tour highlights the serene beauty of Symbiosis Sandipani, set amidst lush valleys. The architecture, with its brick jali work and open balconies, is designed to harmonize with the picturesque landscape, offering an ideal environment for advanced learning and executive training.

About Educational Spaces: Campuses for Connection

We do not believe in corridors as mere pathways. In our campus projects, we treat circulation areas as "social spines"—widening staircases into amphitheater-like seating, integrating green courtyards, and using open-plan layouts to ensure that every corner of the building becomes a spot for a conversation, a debate, or a moment of quiet focus.

65 years of award-winning institutional design — Approved by the tribe
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IMK Architects

Takes projects across India; Visit offices in Mumbai & BengaluruStarts from ₹220 ₹ per sq. ft. of Built-up Area

We are IMK Architects. We have spent over six decades figuring out how to build campuses that actually feel alive, rather than just functioning as institutional boxes. For us, a successful school or university project is one where the architecture itself encourages students to step out of the classroom and engage with each other and the natural environment.

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The Venkateshwar Group of Schools features a unified architectural identity across its Delhi campuses. This design uses bold geometric facades, expansive glass, and striking green accents to create a modern and recognizable institutional brand.21
A closer look at the facade of Venkateshwar International School (SVIS), showcasing the consistent design language with its distinctive green highlights and structured aesthetic that defines the school's brand.
This 3D rendering of Venkateshwar World School in Pune shows our initial design concept. The plan included a modern facade with grey stone, white GRC jalis, and green tiles, all set within a lush, green campus with integrated sports facilities.
The completed Venkateshwar World School in Pune, nestled into the hillside. The final structure stays true to the design, blending seamlessly with the natural landscape while providing a modern learning environment.

Educational Institutions: Designing Functional Learning Spaces

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ENAR ConsultantsTakes projects across India; Visit office in Sainik Farm, New Delhi
The central spine of the VIT School of Architecture, designed as a multi-level interactive zone. The visual connectivity between floors, with students visible on walkways and in breakout spaces, fosters a dynamic learning environment.43
Students collaborating on the steps of a wide corridor at VIT. We designed these transitional spaces to be more than just for circulation, creating informal nooks and seating areas for spontaneous discussions.
A double-height studio classroom at VIT. The mezzanine level provides additional workspace and allows for visual connection and observation, encouraging peer-to-peer learning.
The academic blocks at VIT are designed as a series of interconnected volumes with deep overhangs and recessed windows, creating a play of light and shadow while providing shade.

Designing for Higher Learning

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MindspaceTakes projects across India; Visit Design Studio in Sanjayanagara
At Vidyashilp Academy, we designed open, stepped plazas that serve as informal gathering spots for students. These spaces, integrated with planters and seating, encourage social interaction and provide a calm, walkable campus environment that supports mental well-being.16
Circulation paths at Vidyashilp Academy are carefully designed to weave around mature trees, preserving the natural landscape. The curved, colonnaded walkway provides a shaded path that fosters a continuous connection with the outdoors, making the school feel like it breathes with its environment.
This internal courtyard at Vidyashilp Academy is a perfect example of a protected, green oasis. It acts as a light well, drawing daylight and air into the heart of the campus, while the circular seating and native planting create a peaceful retreat for students.
The facade of Vidyashilp Academy features large 'jali'-inspired panels that filter sunlight and maintain constant airflow. This passive design strategy, combined with the preservation of existing trees, creates a climate-responsive and energy-efficient learning environment.

Educational and Institutional Campus Architecture

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MorphogenesisTakes projects across India; Studios in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru & Pune
This article spread details our work with the Agastya Foundation, where we designed an Art School and Bio Diversity Centre. The project was inspired by the creativity of rural children and the natural forms of the local environment, reflecting our sensitive and contextual approach to educational architecture.6
Our community and social impact projects are diverse, from the post-earthquake rebuilding of schools in Nepal to the creation of sustainable educational facilities. This image collage highlights the human scale of our work, like the accessible prayer wheels, and our large-scale institutional designs.
This site plan for the Institute of Environmental & Sustainable Development at BHU shows how we integrate nature into our master planning. We preserved existing trees as nodal points and designed natural water holding ponds to recharge aquifers, making the landscape an active part of the campus.
A concept sketch for the BHU institute, illustrating how residential and academic blocks are placed carefully amongst the trees. This approach minimizes our impact on the site and ensures the natural character of the land remains the defining feature of the campus.

Designing for Education & Community: Spaces for Learning

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Mistry ArchitectsTakes social impact projects across India; Visit Design Studio in Indiranagar
A rendering of the Student Indoor Sports and Recreation Centre at Mahindra University, Hyderabad. Envisioned as the campus "Living Room," the building is a vibrant anchor for physical activity, social engagement, and community life.15
A view of the Mahindra University centre from across the natural water body it is planned along. The design integrates a waterfront edge as a recreational spill-out, blending the built and unbuilt environments.
The ground level of the recreation centre, showing open, column-supported spaces that connect directly to the surrounding lawn and landscape. These areas foster interaction and provide shaded spaces for students to gather.
An aerial rendering of the Mahindra University project, showing its integration within a dense green landscape. The design respects the existing topography and uses it to create a multi-level program of activities.

Sustainable Institutional Campus Architecture Design

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Edifice ConsultantsTakes projects across India; Offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru & Delhi
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A view of the Sage University campus in Indore, with its distinctive curved terracotta-clad walls and landscaped entry. The design is carefully integrated with the natural terrain to create a serene learning environment.
The façade of Sage University, showcasing the rhythmic pattern of windows and the use of terracotta. The building's form and materials were chosen to be both modern and responsive to the local climate.
The main entrance gate of Sage University, designed to be a grand and welcoming statement. The monumental scale and earthy materials set the tone for the entire 12-acre campus.

Institutional and Educational Architectural Design

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Qutub MandviwalaTakes projects across India; Visit office in Mahalakshmi, Mumbai

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