BRAC University New Campus – Md. Akram Hossain

The BRAC University New Campus in Badda, Dhaka, is one of the most ambitious and environmentally significant institutional projects in South Asia. Designed by the world-renowned WOHA Architects (Singapore) in collaboration with local partners, the project follows the concept of a "Vertical City" and a "Living Laboratory," transforming a formerly industrial site into a sustainable, biophilic urban oasis.

The 1.7-million-square-foot complex is engineered to breathe, utilizing passive cooling strategies and massive integrated landscapes to combat Dhaka's heat and humidity.

Project Overview

Location: Kha-224, Pragati Sarani, Merul Badda, Dhaka.
Architect: WOHA Architects (Singapore) & Architect Jalal Ahmad (Associate Architect).
Project Type: Institutional / University Campus.
Site Area: 5.3 Acres.
Total Built-up Area: ~1.7 Million SFT.
Status: Recently Completed / Fully Operational.

Structural & Façade Engineering

The campus is divided into two primary zones: the "Private Zone" (academic blocks) floating above the "Public Zone" (the ground-level park). This required extraordinary structural coordination.

The Floating Aerofoil: The upper floors are protected by a massive, distinctive roof known as the "Aerofoil." This structure provides shade to the entire building, significantly reducing solar heat gain.
Façade Systems: * High-Performance Glazing: Strategic use of Double Glazed Units (DGU) for classrooms and labs to maintain thermal comfort.
- Living Façade: A "Green Skin" consisting of vertical trellises and over 400,000 plants wraps the building. This acts as a natural carbon sink, provides evaporative cooling, and serves as an acoustic barrier against the noise of Pragati Sarani.
Structural Voids: The building features massive "Breezeway" voids that facilitate cross-ventilation, allowing wind to flow through the heart of the campus to cool the internal courtyards naturally.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Details
Sustainability Rating	Designed to meet international green building standards (LEED equivalent).
Water Management	Specialized Bio-Retention ponds and an on-site Sewage Treatment Plant (STP).
Cooling Strategy	Hybrid system utilizing passive ventilation and energy-efficient VRF cooling.
Foundation	Deep piling and robust structural frames to support the extensive "Sky Park" on the upper levels.
Public Park	A 4-acre "Biodiverse Park" at the ground level, open to the community.

Key Features & Innovation

The University in a Park: By elevating the academic functions, the design creates a massive public park at the ground level, which helps mitigate the "Urban Heat Island" effect in the Badda area.
The Sky Park: A continuous, landscaped recreational space on the 4th floor that connects the various academic blocks, providing a "lungs" for the university.
Adaptive Reuse: The project successfully converted a low-lying, swampy industrial land into a resilient, flood-protected educational hub.
Energy Efficiency: Through the use of the Aerofoil roof and the green façade, the building aims to reduce energy consumption by up to 40% compared to conventional high-rise institutional buildings in Dhaka.

The BRAC University New Campus stands as a global benchmark for tropical institutional architecture, demonstrating how high-density urban structures can integrate nature to improve both human well-being and environmental health.