Set within a historic campus, the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani—established in the early 1900s—is a longstanding centre of academic excellence. As part of its vision to modernise infrastructure and increase student intake from 3,500 to 5,000, the institute initiated the development of a new academic precinct alongside the upgradation of its existing facilities.
The first and most significant intervention was the New Academic Block (NAB), conceived as a visual and spatial connector between two iconic campus landmarks: the Clock Tower at the northern end and the Saraswati Mandir to the south. Separating these landmarks was a large recreational ground of approximately 80,000–100,000 sq m—the only substantial parcel available for academic expansion. To preserve the historic visual axis that had existed for over five decades, the building was deliberately designed as a largely subterranean structure.
Emerging organically from the landscape, the NAB creates a series of interlocking spaces organised around a gently winding central pathway linking the Clock Tower to the Mandir. The landscaped roof is punctuated by irregular skylights that bring daylight deep into the building while maintaining the continuity of the open ground above. A grand 50-metre-diameter rotunda anchors the complex, accommodating up to 1,500 students and blending traditional campus architecture—expressed through arches—with contemporary ramps and seating.
Above ground, only four Rajasthani-style archways are visible, marking entry points and symbolically referencing the campus’s architectural language. Designed to LEED Gold standards, the building incorporates a 65,000 sq ft green roof, with embankments landscaped using low-maintenance Wadelia creepers. Housing academic facilities for over 2,500 students, the NAB remains largely concealed within the terrain, revealing itself gradually to first-time visitors.
Beyond the NAB, the scope also included the renovation of 3,500 student rooms, construction of 1,000 new rooms, upgrades and additions to nearly 250 faculty residences, student mess facilities, and extensive infrastructure development. All interventions were carefully calibrated to respond to Pilani’s extreme climate—ranging from 0°C to 50°C—while remaining sensitive to the campus’s culture, architecture, and way of life.
