India’s architectural education ecosystem is increasingly intersecting with the country’s sustainability agenda, as industry-led initiatives encourage young designers to explore climate-responsive building solutions. Asahi India Glass (AIS) has announced the national winners of the seventh edition of the AIS Design Olympiad (ADO), a nationwide architecture competition that focuses on sustainable building design and innovation.
The latest edition of the competition concluded with a national finale in early March, following months of regional evaluations that brought together architecture students from institutions across India. The programme aims to create stronger links between academia and the building industry while encouraging students to address real-world design challenges related to energy efficiency and environmental performance.This year’s challenge centred on designing sustainable facades for future workplaces, encouraging participants to treat building exteriors not merely as aesthetic elements but as high-performance systems capable of improving energy efficiency, daylight access and occupant comfort.
After multiple evaluation rounds, teams from four architecture institutions emerged as national winners. National Institute of Technology, Patna secured the top position, followed by Sushant School of Art and Architecture in Gurugram in second place and MEASI Academy of Architecture in Chennai in third. A special recognition award was presented to Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology in Murthal.During the final stage, shortlisted teams presented scale models, drawings and technical strategies to a national jury panel comprising senior architects and industry professionals. The jury assessed proposals on parameters such as environmental performance, practicality, material selection and the integration of climate-responsive design strategies.
Industry experts involved in the evaluation emphasised that the competition highlighted a growing shift in architectural thinking. Many of the student proposals focused on shading devices, adaptive glazing, daylight optimisation and energy-efficient façade systems designed to reduce building energy consumption while maintaining occupant comfort.For Asahi India Glass, which operates across architectural and automotive glass manufacturing, the initiative also reflects a broader effort to encourage sustainable construction practices. Facades—particularly glass-intensive ones—play a critical role in determining how buildings perform in terms of energy efficiency, indoor thermal comfort and daylight management.
Urban planners note that façade design has become increasingly important as Indian cities confront rising temperatures, denser skylines and growing energy demand from commercial buildings. Well-designed building envelopes can reduce reliance on mechanical cooling systems while improving natural lighting and ventilation—an essential factor in climate-resilient urban development.The AIS Design Olympiad has grown steadily since its launch, evolving into a national platform where architecture students engage with industry mentors and develop solutions grounded in engineering feasibility and environmental performance.
As India accelerates its push toward greener buildings and energy-efficient infrastructure, initiatives that connect education with practical design challenges may help shape a new generation of architects capable of balancing aesthetics, sustainability and technical performance.
