The project sets a new benchmark of sustainability for exploding megacities of the global tropical belt. It addresses issues of urban congestion, super-high densities, and large buildings catering to large numbers of users. The project manufactures much-needed amenity space in a congested built-up city with a population density double that of Manhattan. It delivers public space, green space, and energy harvesting space - and at the same time provides excellent educational facilities.

Winner of the Holcim Awards 2017 Bronze for Asia Pacific, the design by WOHA (Singapore), Transsolar Energietechnik (Germany) and J A Architects (Bangladesh) transforms a polluted artificial lake into a bio-retention pond surrounded by accessible urban green spaces to unite local communities.

Passive cooling technologies include perforation of the building form, porous facades and garden terraces, cross-ventilation systems, and aerodynamic fins ensure optimal airflow and natural light penetration to reduce the need for artificial cooling. Moreover, the campus prioritizes energy self-sufficiency, with solar panels generating 1.5 megawatts of electricity, covering 25% of its energy needs. The solar arrays are positioned as a “tropical umbrella” that provides shade and diffused lighting to the spaces below. When paired with passive design strategies, the campus’s energy demands will experience a reduction of 58.5% compared to a reference building.

Rain chains facilitate rainwater harvesting, while an advanced sewage treatment plant diverts grey and black water for use in landscaping and for flushing toilets, reducing water demand by 50%. Landscaping applied vertically and horizontally illustrates the potential to multiply green and open spaces within a dense, urban site.

WOHA’s masterplan presents a new model for urban regeneration, one that uses bioremediation and tropical design strategies to develop a 88,000-square-meter campus for over 10,000 students. Universal accessibility is also a key consideration, ensuring all students, including those with special needs, can navigate the campus comfortably. Tamara Hasan Abed, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, shared the campus’s inspiring journey, rooted in the educational philosophy of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. She emphasized the importance of innovative solutions to urbanization while safeguarding nature.

Prof Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, Acting Vice-Chancellor, expressed the vision for the campus as a hub for knowledge and science, aimed at providing high-quality education through ethical research.