The School of Planning & Architecture (SPA) at Nidamanur, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh is all set to be recognised as Centre for Excellence in Spatial Governance (CoEiSG). Ministry of Urban Development has decided to grant the honour to the institute for its expertise in land and space use planning.

SPA Vijayawada is working on one Spatial Governance Strategy (SGS) research project called ‘Urban Vision 2050 of Andhra Pradesh. The planning and architecture institute is already regarded as a key player in urban and regional planning in the state of AP. Asian Development Bank recently awarded it a study on ‘Future Urbanisation of East Coast Economic Corridor’. Getting the status CoEiSG will facilitate SPA students in taking up more live projects.

Andhra Pradesh will benefit from addition of the prestigious national institution in its kitty post bifurcation of the state. Besides, 600 SPA students have taken up projects in planning and architecture, urban and regional planning, environmental planning and sustainable architecture in regions like Vijayawada, Guntur, and Tenali region for their case studies which will prove to be of immense help later. Findings of students’ studies are expected to be published by December 2014.

Maharashtra government has also requested SPA Vijayawada to prepare a regional plan for Kolhapur. Other significant projects of the institute include the documentation of rural and urban housing typology for Andhra and parts of Orissa as per the mandate of Urban Development Ministry. The documentation is to be done on the basis of architecture and building materials used locally.

SPA will also set up a Design Centre too in association with IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and National Institute of Design. This Design Centre will focus on designs unique to this area and will start with arts such as block printing and toy making.

source: http://www.prepsure.com / PrepSure / Home> News / by Rruchi Shrimali / August 07th, 2014