Evolving from the natural form of the siteitself, the JSS Mahavidyapeetha in Mysuru is a sustainable complex withingenious concepts, making it a net zero complex.

JSSAcademy of Higher Education and Research

ProjectCategory: School of Excellence- Educational Complex.

ProjectLocation: Varuna Village, Mysuru.

ProjectCost: Approximately `2,500-cr; Phase 1- `650-cr.

SiteArea: 98.54 acres.

ConstructionArea: 73 Lakh Sq.ft.

ProjectStart Date: 2016.

ClientName: JSS Mahavidyapeetha.

Spread across three villages – Dandikere, Varuna,and Janthagalli – this Global campus of JSS Mahavidyapeetha will be developedon 98.5 acre of land consisting of coconut, mango, teak and areca nutplantations. This campus design is evolved from the natural form of the siteitself – the land “spoke” about how the water flowed, and how the sun playedwith the trees. The natural water body is formed due to the existing depressionof land.

The campus will have state-of-the-art-buildingsfrom Academics, Research, and Residential to Recreation centre with anAuditorium that can seat 2000 people. The design objective of this campus wasto increase the intake of students from 4000 to 16,000, faculty from 550 to1600, support staff from 450 to 1600, programs from 80 to 200, publicationsfrom 600 to 2000, and `30-croreresearch projects to `200-croreresearch project in a span of nine years, i.e., 2016 to 2025.

DesignConcepts

The design concept symbolizes ‘The InfiniteWheel of Knowledge’, known as Gyaan Chakra. It is derived and developed from thePara-Brahman and teachings of Lord Basava. Para-Brahman aims at deeply connectingthe user and creating a site where Truth, Infinity, and Knowledge are in aconstant cycle.

VastuPurusha: The entire planning is done in such a way thatvisual symmetry is achieved. The Para-

Brahma has been designated to the centre of theland parcel, so as to maximize the output of the academic function, as per theVastu Purusha.

To maximize natural sunlight, the eastern zoneof the site has been designated with the Residential clusters for Staff andStudents. Surya and Indra symbolize the function.

The main entrance to the campus is from the‘Varuna’ symbol – West of the site, highlighting the auspiciousness, as thesite is situated near Varuna Lake Region. Keen aspects of symmetry and composedgreen landscape have been taken into consideration to maximize the function andaccentuate a sense of power and balance.

Phase 1 is designed for 6,600 students and 600 Teachersand other staff members, and is spread across 25 lakh sq. ft construction area.The first phase consists of the Iconic building, Department Blocksaccommodating Department of Pharmacy, Department of Health system andManagement Studies, and Faculty of Life sciences along with Research Block for600 Research Scholars. Also, Incubation Centre, Student housing for 1000students, Cafeteria, NRI student housing, and 2-BHK Residences for facultyalong with recreational amenities will be completed in this Phase.

Shaped by the internal needs of the students andteachers, the Iconic building is conceived as a stack of seven individuallevels that wrap around a central open space incorporating all theAdministration facilities, Library, and the Classrooms. In the Iconic Building,as an extension and interpretation of the natural landscape, the 30m diameter indoorcourtyard is designed with terraced steps, generous and flexible space fororientation, and social events for large events and congregations. Above isgigantic trussed skylight that shelters the space from the wind and weather ofthe harsh climate while allowing abundant daylight into the atrium.

The inner facades between the classrooms, thepods, and the courtyard provide an intuitive overview of the differentfunctions within the building.

All the Academic Blocks have abundant naturallight to their classrooms and laboratories. Further, natural glare is reducedby appropriate shading elements and landscape.

All the Academic Blocks are equipped with moderncontemporary form of classrooms with state-of-the-art technology to maximizestudents’ learning. The contemporary form of design creates a soothing andpeaceful effect on the campus.

Special attention is provided on comfortable andengaging seating arrangements, audio-visual technology, and space planning tomaximize educational inputs. The Administration offices at the university andcampus are aimed to cater to global standards, with admin suites and workspacesdesign given an international appeal.

User-friendly furniture, efficient space planning,and comfortable interiors shall be emphasized. Intelligent building managementsystems to be incorporated to save energy and match green building standards.

The Dining areas shall consist of modern, lowmaintenance materials to make cleaning and management easy. Cluster arrangementto be proposed for student seating. The outdoor dining shall have canopies to coverthe seating area.

The recreational block offers multiple sportsactivities on-site to the students as well as faculty members. Basketball, Tennis,Badminton, Swimming, Football, Cricket, Volleyball and a variety of indoor gamesare to be a part of the sports infrastructure.

Staff Residence will provide housing to 300faculty and 300 support staff members in Phase 1. The building is designed toaccommodate more floors later as per the campus requirement.

A total of 1,000 domestic students can beaccommodated in Phase 1 of the Hostel Block. Out of this, 40 per cent will befor boys and the remaining 60 per cent will house girls.

In-house laundry and entertainment zones are alsoplanned. Apart from these, the play with open spaces between the structuresrelinks the landscape in a continuous green axis, following the originalintentions of the master plan.

The design is sustainable with ingeniousconcepts that make the complex net zero.