Nestled in Salem, the ‘steel city’ of Tamil Nadu, India, the Sona College of Technology has fostered education, learning and innovation since its establishment in 1993. Over the years, the institute has grown from accommodating approximately a thousand students to over 8000 students now, emphasising the need for continuous expansion in the masterplan. Having been associated with the project since the start, Mumbai and Bangalore-based architecture firm IMK Architects introduces two additions to the evolving hub: the admin and the library block. Featuring a striking stepped facade that exemplifies the design philosophy of ‘Stepping Blocks to the Future’, “the two buildings emphasise a forward-looking approach by integrating diverse materials to symbolise advancement and evolution in architectural principles and technology,” Rahul Kadri, partner and principal architect, IMK Architects, tells STIR.

Established in 1957, IMK Architects has contributed in the spheres of architecture, urban planning and interior design over the last five decades. The fundamentals of biophilic architecture guide the practice’s philosophy, cultivating designs that are site sensitive, socially responsive and in harmony with nature. With an expertise in educational architecture, IMK Architects injects their creative ethos into Sona College’s new blocks. “Biophilia is at the heart of IMK Architects' design philosophy, which is evident in the Sona Library Block,” shares Kadri. “The design carefully integrates natural elements, preserving existing trees that accentuate the entry and create a seamless connection between the built environment and the natural world,” he adds.

The admin and library blocks are positioned near the main engineering block, also called the Heritage Block since it was the first building to be constructed in the campus in 1993. The visitors, upon entering the college campus, engage with the sweeping public space in front of the library block—a recent popular interaction zone for students. The plan is placed on site in a way to avoid overshadowing the Heritage Block and its vista which seamlessly connects all other educational buildings on the campus. Granite steps leading to the library, developed around the existing trees on site, serve as an outdoor plaza.

The buildings house administrative offices, placement departments, corporate floors, conference rooms, a banquet hall, management residences, a 1000-seater auditorium, and a state-of-the-art tech-friendly library. Indoors, the students encounter a well lit and ventilated atrium that features an indoor plaza. The plaza, continuing the rhythms of the stepped space, invites users to interact and enjoy the natural light during the day. Through strategic orientation of the building, natural light filters into the interiors; the louvres help with expelling hot air and regulating indoor temperature through proper air circulation. Deep colonnades and openable shutters minimise further heat gain.

“While libraries have always been seen as the primary knowledge source on educational campuses, in today's fast-paced world of technology, inviting students into a physical library to engage with books may seem daunting,” Kadri explains. This constraint was tackled by the introduction of multiple interactive spaces throughout the library block—yielding an environment vacillating between the formal and informal. Interaction, dialogue and learning are followed by teamwork and innovation—attributes the building aspires to foster.

In addition to the reading spaces, a 1000-seater auditorium is designed beneath the library’s entry steps, an intervention addressing the educational institute’s growing needs. Furthermore, an amphitheatre and a cafe offer areas where students can relax and connect with each other.

Connected to the library is the University Center, an administrative block encompassing six conference rooms with a capacity of eight to 40 guests each, a banquet hall accommodating up to 50 people, and two floors housing management residences. The block also includes offices for the Placement department and corporate floors with management cabins. A board room on the top floor offering picturesque views of the city completes the eight-storey-high tower—the tallest landmark in Salem.

Four horizontal bands with different massing and materialities create an illusion of multiple buildings, defining the new blocks’ facade design. Along with an evident play in scale, each level is characterised by the usage of different materials such as MS lattice, masonry boxing, DGU sliding and DGU structural glazing. This visual language reiterates the concept of ‘stepping blocks to the future,’ a philosophy of advancement and evolution.

The new admin and the library block, akin to all the buildings at the Sona College of Technology campus, are “driven by functionality and primary principles of sustainability that ensure better lighting, ventilation, movement, and indoor-outdoor connections,” as per the Indian architect. Despite a similar foundation, the structures carry their distinct character, visually associated with the times they were built in. The latest augmentation of the college blends seamlessly with its surroundings, bringing together the language of IMK Architects, the spirit of the institute, and a sense of community.