Arup wins international competition to design India’s next generation NAMTECH University

Set to accommodate 15,000 students and support the country’s ambitions in next‑generation manufacturing, engineering and technology, the development will bring together world‑class facilities in a single integrated campus. The masterplan will provide six million sq ft of laboratories, teaching spaces, residential accommodation, sports and wellbeing facilities.

Working in collaboration with McCullough Mulvin Architects (Dublin) and Design Plus Architects (Delhi), Arup’s cross-regional team from Ireland and India created the winning Interwoven concept – a design inspired by Gujarat’s ancient weaving traditions that integrates local heritage with India’s future-focused innovation economy.

Arup is providing expertise across 11 disciplines, including sustainability, civil and structural engineering, MEP, façade design, ICT, smart campus systems, mobility, and more. This end-to-end capability was a decisive factor in the competition, enabling a coherent, technically rigorous and innovative response. Early workshops, onsite engagement with faculty and students, and detailed exploration of the region’s climate, ecology and culture helped shape a design approach that is technically rigorous, contextually grounded, and future-ready.

The design reflects the client’s ambition for a sustainable, smart and healthy learning environment. The proposal introduces a bespoke sustainability strategy built around eight pillars, including carbon, circularity, biodiversity, community and wellbeing. Conceived as a ‘living lab’, the campus prioritises ecological net gain, frugal innovation and environmentally resilient systems tailored to Indian conditions.

Developed in phases within a forest campus setting, NAMTECH University will become a world-class centre of excellence bringing together the principles of ecology, learning, and innovation.