- The DDA forwarded (through OPAAS) the proposal for consideration by the Commission.
- The building proposal for proposed professional College (comprising of basement + stilts+ ground + 8 floors) received (through OPAAS) at the formal stage was scrutinised. Based on the submission made, including drawings and photographs, etc., the following observations are to be complied with:
a) The Commission observed that the proposal is being reviewed and evaluated with due consideration to its visual quality, urban aesthetics, architectural expression, and compatibility with the surrounding context. The building proposal has been examined with respect to its elevation, façade treatment, materiality, built form, and screening of utilities.
b) The submission has been submitted at the formal stage but the photographs of the existing site context have not been provided clearly to understand the existing situation in the right context. An appropriate nos. of annotated site photographs shall be provided to get in-depth clarity of the site and surroundings. They need to be resubmitted with proper uncut views from all sides for the better understanding of the Commission.
c) The Commission observed that the proposed college campus is planned on a plot area of 12,000 sqm. Upon examination, it was observed that the overall design requires further consideration with regard to site planning, accessibility, usability, efficiency and student comfort. The drop-off area and main entrances are not adequately located within the site, and the main entrance is not provided with an appropriate porch or other suitable shading mechanism. The proposed building is also planned in a manner that leaves limited provision for open and green spaces for the students. Certain building wings have acute-angled geometries which require appropriate architectural resolution. Further, the overall design scheme lacks sufficient clarity and efficiency, particularly with regard to the long internal corridors, which do not appear to have adequate provisions for natural light and ventilation.
d) Upon detailed examination, the Commission further observed that the ground floor level is approximately 3.80 m above the existing ground level and is accessed through a continuous flight of steps without an intermediate landing. The staircase also lacks adequate handrail provisions and an overhead porch, thereby affecting the safety and convenience of access to the building.
e) Accordingly, the proposal shall be reviewed comprehensively with due consideration to the usability and efficiency of the campus, student comfort, accessibility, circulation, provision of adequate open and green spaces, natural light and ventilation, and appropriate architectural treatment of the building form. It shall specifically be ensured that an intermediate landing, suitable handrails and an overhead porch are provided at the main entrance to facilitate safe and comfortable access to the ground floor.
f) Further, the Commission observed that the internal corridor is excessively long and lacks adequate provision for natural light and ventilation, particularly at both ends, where no fenestration/openings are provided.
g) The Commission observed that the proposal submitted at the Formal Stage is incomplete, as the plans, elevations and sections do not correspond with the proposed 3D views, resulting in a lack of coherence in the submission. Further, certain architectural elements depicted in the 3D views, including glazing, vertical louvres, etc., are not reflected in the corresponding drawings, thereby making the design intent unclear. Accordingly, the drawings shall be revised and duly coordinated to ensure consistency among the plans, elevations, sections and 3D views, with all proposed architectural elements appropriately reflected, so as to provide a complete, clear and coherent submission for consideration of the Commission.
h) Skin section drawings shall be provided to adequately illustrate the construction and detailing of the proposed façade and to reflect the elements shown in the 3D views. In addition, sections through the double-height spaces, including the auditorium, badminton hall, and other such areas, shall be provided to clearly demonstrate their spatial configuration and functioning.
i) The Commission observed that the detailed ground floor plans have been submitted in isolation and do not adequately demonstrate their relationship with the surrounding site and overall circulation network. Essential details, including access roads, entry and exit points, drop-off areas and their access arrangements, peripheral roads, and their integration with the overall site planning, have not been clearly indicated. The ground floor plans shall therefore be revisited and appropriately detailed (including enlarged details) to clearly illustrate these aspects and facilitate the judicious review and consideration of the proposal by the Commission.
j) The proposal has been submitted at the Formal Stage; however, the structural arrangement of the proposed building has not been indicated in the submission. The Commission observed that the structural system and its arrangement may have a direct bearing on both the external façade, internal planning and functionality of the building, including the basement and stilt-level parking provisions. Accordingly, the structural arrangement shall be appropriately integrated with and reflected in the architectural drawings at this stage, with due consideration to its impact on the building form, internal planning, circulation and parking layout, to facilitate effective review and consideration by the Commission.
k) The Commission observed that parking has been proposed at surface level (P1), in the stilt and in the basement. It is strongly recommended that the surface parking (P1) be removed and relocated to the basement by providing double-stack parking, or alternatively accommodated within a podium parking arrangement, as permissible under the applicable Building Bye-Laws. This would facilitate the release of surface areas for landscaped open spaces and improve the usability of the campus for students. All parking provisions shall adhere to all the applicable norms/guidelines/regulations, etc. (in terms of points no. 18 of the CPAA (Criterion for Project Assessment and Approval)), as available on the DUAC website at www.duac.org.in.
l) The Commission observed that, considering the nature of the proposal as a college campus involving substantial pedestrian and vehicular movement, the pedestrian and vehicular circulation within the site is not sufficiently self-explanatory. Accordingly, a comprehensive mobility and circulation plan shall be submitted, clearly illustrating the seamless and conflict-free movement of pedestrians and vehicles from the site entry points within the campus. The plan shall clearly indicate the segregation of pedestrian and vehicular movement, along with the principal movement routes, access points and circulation patterns, to facilitate effective review and understanding of the proposed site circulation.
m) Since the building appears to be fully air-conditioned, the location of outdoor air-conditioning units and their screening mechanism are not clearly indicated in the submission and appear to be missing from the terrace plan. Appropriate screening shall be provided at the terrace level to ensure that the units do not adversely affect the aesthetic quality of the building complex.
n) It was observed that some of the proposed toilets do not have the adequate arrangements of the plumbing shafts, exposed external plumbing pipes could impact the visual and the aesthetics of the façade. It shall be ensured that all toilets should have the provisions of the plumbing shafts to appropriately screen the plumbing arrangements.
o) Further, the submission does not clearly indicate the location and integration of essential services and utilities, including the overhead water tank, rainwater pipes and other service infrastructure. All plumbing pipes, rainwater pipes, service equipment, DG Set, DG exhaust pipes, water tanks, air-conditioning units, solar panels, etc., should be camouflaged appropriately (in terms of points nos. 10, 11, and 12 of the CPAA (Criterion for Project Assessment and Approval), as available on the DUAC website at www.duac.org.in.
p) It was observed that the terrace plan indicates a parapet wall of 1.5 m height, whereas the 3D views depict a lower parapet height, resulting in a discrepancy between the drawings and the visual representations. It was further observed that the lower parapet height depicted in the 3D views may not provide adequate screening of the terrace services. Accordingly, the 3D views shall be revised to accurately reflect the proposed 1.5 m parapet height as indicated in the drawings, thereby maintaining a uniform skyline and coherent architectural expression of the façade. All drawings and 3D views shall be duly coordinated to ensure consistency across the submission and maintain the overall visual and aesthetic quality of the building.
q) The Commission observed that the submission is incomplete, as details of the Swachh Bharat toilet, entrance gate, boundary wall and guard house have not been provided. As these elements constitute the primary interface of the complex with the surrounding urban environment, the revised submission shall include complete and coordinated plans, elevations, sections and 3D views for all such components. Particular attention shall be given to the design and detailing of the entrance gate and boundary wall, including gate/grill details, materials and their architectural treatment, as these elements have a significant bearing on the overall visual quality and aesthetics of the complex. It shall further be ensured that utilities are appropriately screened and consistently represented across all relevant drawings and 3D views, with the plans, elevations, sections and 3D representations duly coordinated.
r) The Commission observed that the site layout indicates a sharp turning radius at the basement entry/exit, which may impede smooth and safe vehicular movement. Accordingly, the road geometry and associated landscape design shall be suitably revised, wherever required, to provide an adequate turning radius and ensure smooth and conflict-free ingress and egress to and from the basement.
s) All plumbing pipes, rainwater pipes, service equipment, DG Set, DG exhaust pipes, water tanks, air-conditioning units, solar panels, drying of clothes etc., should be camouflaged appropriately (in terms of points nos. 10, 11, and 12 of the CPAA (Criterion for Project Assessment and Approval), as available on the DUAC website at www.duac.org.in.
t) The Work of public art of suitable scale, size and material, imparting character and identity to the complex shall ensure to be installed in terms of point nos. 14 of the CPAA (Criterion for Project Assessment and Approval) and Memorandum dated October 07, 2025 available on the DUAC website at www.duac.org.in.
u) The submitted site plan do not match the submitted landscape plan. Further, the submitted landscape proposal lacks sufficient clarity. A detailed landscape plan shall be submitted at an appropriate scale, clearly indicating the hardscape and softscape areas, existing and proposed trees, species, plantation details, site levels, and other landscape elements (in terms of points nos. 6 of the CPAA (Criterion for Project Assessment and Approval), as available on the DUAC website at www.duac.org.in.
v) The installation of clear-story solar panels on a well-designed structural frame, integrated with the building design, is suggested to ensure the effective utilisation of the space beneath, subject to feasibility as per building bye-laws. This placement also facilitates easy maintenance, reduces heat load through increased shading, and improves aesthetics. The sustainability features shall be as per Point 7 of the CPAA (Criterion for Project Assessment and Approval), available on the DUAC website at www.duac.org.in.
- Overall, the proposal received at the formal stage has discrepancies, and needs improvement. The architect is advised to adhere to all the above observations and provide a point-by-point incorporation and response.