School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi

Last updated

School of Planning and Architecture Delhi
School of Planning and Architecture Logo.svg
Other name
SPA
Former name
Department of Architecture, Delhi Polytechnic (1941–1959)
Type Public
Established1941;84 years ago (1941)
Academic affiliation
Institute of National Importance
Chairperson Union Minister of Education
DirectorVirendra Kumar Paul [1]
Students1,190
Undergraduates 717
Postgraduates 428
44
Location,
110002
,
India
Affiliations National Association of Students of Architecture, NOSPlan
Website www.spa.ac.in
School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi
Aerial view of the Planning Block of the School View from 14th Floor, Vikas Minar, ITO.jpg
Aerial view of the Planning Block of the School
Planning block of School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. SPA Delhi From in Gate.JPG
Planning block of School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi.

School of Planning and Architecture Delhi (SPA Delhi) is a higher education federal institute located in Delhi, India specialising in education and research, and serving as the national centre of excellence, in the fields of planning and architecture. The institute primarily offers undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral and executive education programs. It forms part of the league with other two Schools of Planning and Architecture, namely SPA Bhopal and SPA Vijayawada established by the Government of India to provide quality Architecture and physical planning education.

Contents

Each SPA is autonomous and exercises independent control over its day-to-day operations. However, the administration of all SPAs and the overall strategy of SPAs is overseen by the SPA Council. The SPA Council is headed by India's Minister of Human Resource Development and consists of the chairpersons and directors of all SPAs and senior officials from the MHRD.

History

The beginning of the School of Planning and Architecture Delhi dates back to the year 1941, as a Department of Architecture of the Delhi Polytechnic of Delhi University (now Delhi Technological University). [2] In 1942, Walter Sykes George and his associates established the Department of Architecture as part of the Delhi Polytechnic in Kashmere Gate. [3] It was the first school for architects to be established in North India. 1959 it was merged with the School of Town and Country Planning (established in 1955 by the Government of India), renamed to its current name and affiliated to the University of Delhi. [4] In 1979, recognising its national and international eminence, the institute was granted Deemed University status. [5] In 2008, Government of India established two more SPAs, namely SPA Bhopal and SPA Vijaywada. In 2014, Lok Sabha passed a bill to make all the three SPAs "centre of excellence" on the pattern of IITs and IIMs.[ citation needed ] It was named an "Institution of National Importance" under the SPA Act 2014.[ citation needed ]

Campus

The current SPA Delhi campus is split in two blocks one each for Planning and Architecture. Both these blocks are housed near ITO in Indraprastha Estate in Delhi. The girls hostel is located in the ITO campus itself and the boys hostel and residential campus is located in New Friends Colony, Maharani Bagh, Delhi. [6]

As of July 2013 the final plans for the new campus in Vasant Kunj has been finalised.[ needs update ]

Organisation and administration

Governance

The Director of the School is assisted by 5 Deans as follows:

Each department of studies has a Departmental Research Committee and Head of the Department of Studies is its chairperson. Academic policy is decentralised to the extent that each department of studies has an Advisory Committee, which makes proposals on department related academic matters. Chairperson of the Board of Studies is Head of the Department.

Departments

B.Arch Studio Classroom B.Arch Studio Classroom.jpg
B.Arch Studio Classroom

The various Departments in the School are as follows:

Academics

Academic programmes

The School offers planning, architecture and design courses both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Admission to undergraduate programs in all SPAs is tied to the Entrance Examination, popularly known as JEE. Candidates who qualify admission via Joint Entrance Examination can apply for admission in B.Arch. (Bachelor of Architecture) and B.Plan. (Bachelor of Planning) courses in SPAs. Admission to most postgraduate courses in SPAs is granted through various interviews and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering. [7]

While the Bachelor of Architecture course is one of the oldest in the country, highly successful Bachelor of Planning course was started in 1989. Besides, the school offers 10 postgraduate programmes along with the doctoral programmes run by all the departments of studies. Total strength of the students in session 2015-2016 was 1,189 of which 717 were undergraduate students and 428 were post graduates. Presently 44 students are pursuing Ph.D. programme in the School. [8]

Open Amphitheatre at Architecture Block Open Amphitheatre at Architecture Block.jpg
Open Amphitheatre at Architecture Block

Recognition

SPA Delhi has a special status as an "Institutes of National Importance" under an act of Parliament, [9] due to which the degrees provided by SPA need not be recognised by the AICTE. [10] The JEE and GATE are important factors behind the success of SPA, as it enables the SPA to accept only a select group of meritorious students. This combination of success factors has led to the concept of the SPA Brand. Other factors that have contributed to the success of SPA are stringent faculty recruitment procedures and industry collaboration. The procedure for selection of faculty in SPA is stricter as compared to other colleges offering similar degrees.

Rankings

University rankings
Architecture – India
NIRF (2024) [11] 4

In 2024, SPA Delhi was ranked 4th in architecture by the National Institutional Ranking Framework. [12]

Student life

Halls of residence

SPA Boys Hostel at Maharani Bagh Campus SPA Boys Hostel at Maharani Bagh.jpg
SPA Boys Hostel at Maharani Bagh Campus
Entrance to the SPA Boys Wing Entrance SPABoysWing.jpg
Entrance to the SPA Boys Wing

The SPA was one of the first institutions to have mixed hostels for girls and boys, but this was closed in 1993, despite student protests. There are two hostels for students. The planning block of the institution offers residence to girls. The hostel complex in Taimoor Nagar is designed for both boys and girls.

Student Council

SPA Delhi Council Untitled presentation e e page-0001.jpg
SPA Delhi Council

The Student Council of the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (SPA Delhi) is the apex elected body that represents all undergraduate and postgraduate students. Operating under the Dean (Student Affairs), the Council serves as the formal conduit between the student community and the School’s administration, and it organises most extra-curricular, cultural and sports activities on campus.

Structure

According to the Student Handbook the Council is organised in three tiers.

TierCore postsMain responsibilities
Executive (General) CouncilGeneral President, General Secretaries (UG & PG), EditorRepresents the entire student body, coordinates with administration, issues official statements, and oversees joint Council initiatives.(spa.ac.in)
Undergraduate CouncilUG President, UG Secretary, Cultural, Sports, Games & Photography SecretariesHandles undergraduate welfare, cultural and sports events, first-year orientation and society coordination.(spa.ac.in)
Post-graduate CouncilPG President, PG Secretary, Social & Entertainment SecretariesAddresses PG academic concerns, research colloquia, professional-development workshops and community-outreach drives.(spa.ac.in)

Elections

Council elections are held once every academic year, generally at the start of the odd semester. All enrolled students vote by secret ballot; candidature is open department-wide and governed by election rules issued by the Dean (Student Affairs). The newly elected Council assumes office for a one-year term that runs parallel to the academic session.spa.ac.in

Activities

Council tierPostName
Executive / General CouncilGeneral PresidentChinmayi Abhijit Sawant
General Secretary (UG)Yash Raj Parhi
General Secretary (PG)Shubham Kumar
EditorAnoushka Tater
Under-graduate CouncilPresidentKushagra Shrivastava
SecretaryAryan Raman Lohar
Cultural SecretaryArishmita Das
Sports SecretaryMagan Singla
Post-graduate CouncilPresidentRashi Bhat
SecretaryPrince Santosh Katariya
Entertainment SecretaryAdarsh Kumar
Social SecretaryHarithapriya Vijaye
Games SecretaryShruthi S.
Photography SecretarySudeep Gurumayum

Hostel Management Committee (HMC)

Hostel Management Committee Hostel Management Committee.jpg
Hostel Management Committee

The Hostel Management Committee (HMC) is the statutory body that advises the School on all policy and operational matters connected with hostel accommodation, mess services and student welfare in the two campuses at ITO and Maharani Bagh. Chaired by the Honorary Hostel Warden and working in concert with the Dean (Student Affairs) and Estate Office, the HMC frames hostel rules, oversees maintenance budgets, vets mess contracts and represents resident students in decisions on allotment and discipline.

PostNameProgramme / Year
General HMCAnvita Nandan PrasadB.Plan ’22
UG Boys’ HMCBhavya Prakash SinghB.Plan ’22
UG Girls’ HMCSneha GuptaB.Arch ’22
HMC CoordinatorShubhrajyoti SarkarB.Plan ’22
PG Boys’ HMCV. Pavan BharadwajM.Plan (BEM) ’24
PG Girls’ HMCB. ShrutiM.Tech (TP) ’24

Elections

HMC elections are held once every academic year, generally at the start of the odd semester. All enrolled students vote by secret ballot; candidature is open department-wide and governed by election rules issued by the Dean (Student Affairs). The newly elected HMC assumes office for a one-year term that runs parallel to the academic session.spa.ac.in

Key functions

Together with the Student Council, the HMC ensures that residential life at SPA Delhi remains safe, transparent and responsive to student needs, while adhering to the hostel rules laid down by the School. More information: https://spa.ac.in/resources/student-council

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. "Administration:School of Planning and Architecture". spa.ac.in. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  2. "History of the School:School of Planning and Architecture". spa.ac.in. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  3. "70 years after its creation, an institution remains at the forefront of nation building". 3 February 2019.
  4. "About SPA". spa.ac.in. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  5. List of Deemed universities, as of 2008 University Grants Commission
  6. "Campus Location:School of Planning and Architecture". spa.ac.in. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  7. "Courses Offered:School of Planning and Architecture". spa.ac.in. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  8. "Annual report 2015-16" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  9. "The school of planning and architecture act, 2014" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2015.
  10. "Welcome To AICTE". 29 October 2005. Archived from the original on 29 October 2005.
  11. "National Institutional Ranking Framework 2024 (Architecture and Planning)". National Institutional Ranking Framework . Ministry of Education. 12 August 2024.
  12. "NIRF Ranking 2024" (PDF).
  13. SPA, New Delhi telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  14. "Nepal's new PM was a silent observer at CCA". The Indian Express. 30 August 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  15. Capitally Curious indianexpress.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012
  16. In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989) anupamachopra.com.Originally published in the Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 16 November 2012

28°37′43.1″N77°14′45.2″E / 28.628639°N 77.245889°E / 28.628639; 77.245889