Having redefined the goal very ambitiously to create an institute of global standards, it is imperative that the infrastructure is also created at commensurate standards. Prof Raja Kumar, director took the responsibility on to his own shoulders and redefined the Master Plan before the commencement of the Phase-2 works. Furthermore, he personally drew the architecture plans for the residential and academic campuses as well as defined the planning aspects of every building and worked very closely with the architect to ensure that the architectural plans come out as planed and visualized. Similarly, the plantations and landscaping were also done personally. The saga is presented here along with the sketches available on hand
Prof R V Raja Kumar served as the 2nd director of IIT Bhubaneswar during 22nd April 2015 to 2nd April 2022.
On his advise, selection of the architect for the Phase-2 constructions of the institute was made giving importance to submissions made by the participating architectural agencies on a theme based campus architecture (for Phase-2) they have proposed without disturbing the part infrastructure already created under Phase-1. There were 4 participants in the bidding process leading to submission of 4 different architectural models proposed as per their own vision and creativity. The finally selected architect was asked to further improve his/her original submission before proceeding forward.
After examining the final submission from the architect, Prof Kumar felt that there is a scope for better designs. He personally created a plan as per the picture he has arrived at in his mind by working constantly over it. He shared the same with the Heads of School for suggestions and the architect for further improvements, if any. The architect appreciated that plan and made the formal plan as per the same. The BoG accorded approval to the same plan. Thus the architectural models proposed by himself which were actually approved, constructions were made as per the same and by April 2022 most of the infrastructure was made. Details of the same including the informal diagrams prepared by him for the academic campus are given overleaf along with the final google earth picture, for recording the history and posterity.
He is a professor of Electronics & Comm., Engg with research and system design & development experience in Communication Systems, Signal Processing and Detection Systems. Though he has not been a Civil Engineer, due to his passion for creating an exceptional institute of global class and wellness, very exceptionally extended his proficiency to the domains of Civil Engg, Planning and Architecture and engaged in the infrastructure creation by taking the responsibility of planning, providing the important main architecture, getting the work executed by the PMC's and very importantly monitoring quality (on daily basis) in an exceptional way right from day one and ensuring excellent infrastructure, directly onto own shoulders. Exceptional successes could be achieved on all fronts in this endeavour and he dedicates the same to Shri Jayarama Krishna Prasad, his beloved father, an outstanding Civil Engineer who has sown the seeds of engineering aptitude and design thinking in him from his childhood. As a school going boy, he learnt some Civil Engg practices by observing his father in action on sites, which not only came handy for IITBBS, but also RGUKT during his previous assignment. Prof Kumar is confident that the Phase-2 infrastructure, apart from being global class, would continue its lustre and incur very low maintenance costs, in view of its quality assurance.
On his advise, selection of the architect for the Phase-2 constructions of the institute was made giving importance to submissions made by the participating architectural agencies on a theme based campus architecture (for Phase-2) they have proposed without disturbing the part of infrastructure already created under Phase-1. There were 4 participants in the bidding process leading to submission of 4 different architectural models proposed as per their own vision and creativity. The finally selected architect was asked to further improve his/her original submission before proceeding forward.
After examining the final submission from the architect, Prof Kumar felt that there is a scope for better designs. He personally created a plan as per the picture he has arrived at in his mind by working constantly over it. He shared the same with the Heads of School for suggestions and the architect for further improvements, if any. The architect appreciated that plan and made the formal plan as per the same. The BoG accorded approval to the same for proceeding with construction. Thus the architectural models proposed by him were approved, constructions were made as per the same and by April 2022 most of the infrastructure was made. Details of the same including the informal diagrams prepared by himself for the residential campus in 2-3 pieces are given overleaf along with the final google earth picture, for recording the history and for posterity.
© Copyright 2023 Prof. Raja Kumar- All Rights Reserved