Prestige University Indore’s campus, designed by Sanjay Puri Architects, has been named a Jury Winner at the 2026 Architizer A+ Awards in the Higher Education & Research Facilities category. The campus was selected ahead of finalists that included the University of Toronto and Rice University. Founded in 2022, Prestige University Indore is among India’s newer private universities, and the recognition places its 32-acre campus alongside long-established global institutions in one of architecture’s most competitive international awards. The Architizer A+ Awards are among the largest programmes recognising the built environment, with category winners chosen by a jury of more than 250 architects, designers and cultural figures from thousands of entries submitted worldwide.
The campus architecture is also sustainable with Indian Green Building Council platinum rating. The campus is built around a stepped form that gives it its identity. Rather than a single imposing block, the building rises gradually through a series of accessible terraces, with 463 stepped platforms forming a rooftop landscape of around 9,000 square metres that doubles as an open-air gathering space for students and faculty. Naturally lit, landscaped courtyards draw indirect light into the interiors at every level, and the use of north light and shaded courtyards, drawn from traditional Indian architecture, reduces the building’s dependence on artificial lighting and cooling. The design strategy prioritizes passive climate response, thermal comfort, and social interaction across academic and recreational zones.
A campus is not a backdrop to education. It is part of how people learn. The way a building invites students and faculty to gather, move and spend time together shapes the experience of studying here, and this recognition reflects a design philosophy that keeps the learner and the wider community at its centre,” said Prof. Keyoor Purani, Vice Chancellor, Prestige University Indore. The statement underscores the institution’s view that spatial design directly impacts pedagogy, collaboration, and wellbeing. The terraced form creates informal learning environments outside classrooms, encouraging interdisciplinary exchange while maintaining visual connection across levels. This approach aligns with global higher education campus design trends that favor openness, flexibility, and environmental performance over closed, corridor-based planning.
The recognition comes as Prestige University Indore expands its programmes in management and computing, adding an international design credential as the university grows. Founded in 2022, Prestige University Indore is a new-age institution committed to redefining higher education through innovation, industry integration, and global perspectives. Recognized by the University Grants Commission and approved by the Madhya Pradesh Private University Regulatory Commission, it currently offers undergraduate and graduate programs in management and computing. The university is located on a 32-acre campus in Indore, with an internationally award-winning architecture. The Architizer A+ Awards win provides visibility for student recruitment, faculty hiring, and international academic partnerships as the institution builds its brand.
Sanjay Puri Architects used the stepped profile to mediate the Indore climate, where high temperatures and intense solar gain demand shading and ventilation. The 463 terraces are planted and accessible, reducing heat island effect while creating usable outdoor rooms for study, events, and informal meetings. Courtyards act as light wells and thermal buffers, with north-facing glazing and deep overhangs limiting direct sun. The Indian Green Building Council platinum rating confirms performance across water efficiency, energy use, material selection, and indoor environmental quality. The project demonstrates how sustainable campus architecture can reinterpret vernacular principles at institutional scale without compromising contemporary program needs.
Winning ahead of the University of Toronto and Rice University places Prestige University Indore’s campus in a cohort of globally benchmarked academic projects. The Architizer A+ Awards jury includes architects, critics, and cultural leaders who evaluate design excellence, social impact, and innovation. For a university established in 2022, the award signals design ambition and execution capability that matches older, well-funded institutions. The campus will serve as a reference for future education infrastructure in India, where new private universities are investing in distinctive architecture to differentiate academically and attract talent. More on the awards program and past winners is available at Architizer.
The Step-Hill campus sets a precedent for integrating landscape, climate response, and pedagogy in Indian higher education design. As Prestige University Indore scales its academic offerings, the built environment will continue to support its positioning as an innovation-driven institution. The recognition validates the role of architecture in shaping institutional identity and student experience, especially for new universities competing globally. With IGBC platinum certification and international jury acclaim, the campus now functions as both academic infrastructure and a demonstration of sustainable design leadership in central India.
