IIM Bodhgaya is conceived as a spatial narrative where architecture performs as a medium of cultural expression and progressive thought. Anchored by a ‘One Ribbon’ masterplan, the design articulates an elliptical spine that threads together programmatic clusters, drawing inspiration from the spatial logic of Nalanda and the vernacular ethos of Gaya and Magadh. Each built volume is an interpretive gesture—responding not only to context and climate but also to the evolving paradigms of pedagogy.
This is not merely an institutional campus; it is an ecologically attuned organism. The architectural response is deeply embedded in sustainability—from the integration of solar PV systems and EV charging infrastructure to the use of low-VOC materials, STPs, and native landscape palettes that mitigate heat gain and enhance biodiversity. The entire framework has been calibrated to significantly reduce the campus’s operational carbon footprint, earning it a GRIHA 4 rating.
The academic blocks are envisioned as cloistered precincts—each distinct, yet connected—facilitating both disciplinary focus and interdisciplinary interaction. Specialized MDP clusters, collaborative student spaces, and contemplative zones dissolve rigid academic boundaries, promoting a culture of lateral learning. The Faculty Residences are choreographed along water cascades and stepped greens, orchestrating a deliberate retreat from the density of the campus core, and framing moments of repose and reflection.
Architecture here performs as both memory and aspiration. Ceremonial gateways, inspired by Torana architecture, punctuate the spatial journey, while the adaptive reuse of the existing stadium into a contemporary auditorium reinforces a commitment to resource-conscious design. These elements are not pastiche—they are reimagined with material restraint and modern clarity.
Technology is seamlessly embedded into the fabric of the campus. Smart classrooms, energy-monitoring systems, and the digital library ‘Pragyata’ operate within a responsive infrastructural framework, enabling both academic excellence and operational resilience. The integration of open-source platforms reflects an ethos of accessibility and innovation.
IIM Bodhgaya emerges as a precedent for institutional architecture that is simultaneously rooted and radical. CP Kukreja Architects have curated a built environment that transcends typological expectations—where learning is not confined to the classroom, but is cultivated across courtyards, colonnades, and commons. This is a campus imagined not just for today, but for the futures it seeks to shape.
Typology: Institutional
Name of Project: Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bodhgaya
Location: Bodhgaya, Bihar
Site Area: 73 Acres
Built-Up Area: 60,400 Sq.m
Client: Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
Completion Date: February 2024
