Taking into account the safety concerns, the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA) has decided that only a part of the campus will be reconstructed. Earlier, a plan was afoot to restore all the buildings on the old campus.
The IIMA campus has academic blocks, faculty offices, and 33 fully furnished dormitories. Concerns for the deterioration of the structures were raised first at a Building Committee meeting in July 1982.
IIMA director, Prof Errol D’Souza, shared that the decision was taken in view of the latest structural report by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee.
The decision was taken by the IIMA Board of Governors, which cited the report which underlined that “the life of these buildings is over and they are not safe. It is almost impossible to continue restoring the buildings”. The tests showed that there is hardly any residual life left in the building and they are “not seismically safe in a state that is known for having earthquakes”.
D’Souza emphasized that the iconic Louis Kahn Plaza will be retained. He, however, said that the IIMA will reconstruct the building in Louis Kahn plaza with the same facade with some minor internal changes to make them more user-friendly.
The IIMA campus, designed by world-famous architect Louis Kahn, was constructed between 1962 and 1974. It is considered one of the masterpieces in modern global architecture with it’s unique design with exposed brickwork, concrete slabs, concrete lintels and concrete beams.
Architects, designers, historians, alumni and children of legendary American architect Louis Kahn had protested against the IIMA for floating an Expression of Interest inviting bids for the reconstruction of dormitories, a legacy of Louis Kahn, in December 2020.
Also Read: Gujarat Polls: Political Parties Shun Tainted Candidates
