School of Planning and Architecture - SPA

About School of Planning and Architecture - SPA

The School of Planning and Architecture had a modest beginning in 1941 as a Department of Architecture of Delhi Polytechnic. It was later affiliated to the University of Delhi and integrated with the School of Town and Country Planning which was established in 1955 by the Government of India to provide facilities for rural, urban and regional planning. On integration, the School was renamed as School of Planning and Architecture in 1959. Recognizing the specialized nature of the fields in which the School had attained eminence, in 1979, the Government of India, through the then Ministry of Education and Culture, conferred on the School of Planning and Architecture the status of "Deemed to be a University". With this new status, the School has broadened its horizon by introducing new academic and extension programmes and promoting research and consultancy activities.

The School is a specialized University, only one of its kind, which exclusively provides training at various levels, in different aspects of human habitat and environment. The School has taken lead in introducing academic programmes in specialized fields both at Bachelor's and Master's level, some of which are even today not available elsewhere in India. The School, in striving for excellence, has always been in the lead in extending education and research to new frontiers of knowledge. Human habitat and environment being the basic concern of the School, the spectrum of academic programmes is being continuously extended by providing programmes in new fields and emerging areas for which facilities are not available, as yet, anywhere else in the country. A site of 20 acres has recently been acquired south of JNU for developing a new campus. Another 20 acres of land adjoining this site is expected to be allotted to the School. A development plan for the new campus is being prepared.

Departments

• Department of Architecture.
• Department of Physical Planning.
• Department of Architectural Conservation.
• Department of Building Engineering And Management.
• Department of Environment Planning.
• Department of Housing.
• Department of Industrial Design.
• Department of Landscape Architecture.
• Department of Regional Planning.
• Department of Urban Design.
• Department of Urban Planning.
• Department of Transport Planning.

Facilities

Library - The School maintains the Library in both Planning and Architecture campuses. Library presently has a collection of nearly 71,000 books and thesis reports besides a rich collection of reports of international seminars and conferences organized by global agencies like UNESCO, WHO, ILO, World Bank, etc. Library subscribes and receives 250 journals in planning, architecture and allied fields. Apart from books and journals, library also maintains a special collection of non-print materials.

Centre for GIS - Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer based tool for mapping and analysing things that exist and events that occur on the earth surface. The prime functions of the GIS are to capture, store, and query, analyse, display and produce spatial information. The Centre for GIS provides facilities for conduct of GIS classes for students belonging to different Department of Studies of the School. Besides, it also conducts training programme from time to time for faculty members on the use and application of GIS Software’s. The Centre is equipped with 26 P IV computers connected through the main server of the School and two high end servers. It has number of software applications like Map Scan and Pop Map Autodesk Inventor 9, ACE 2006, AutoCAD 2006 etc.

Centre for Analysis and Systems Studies (CASS) - The CASS plays an important role in the discharge of the Schools’ academic functions. The CASS has been developed as the main communication centre of the School with internal connections on a Local Area Network providing Internet facilities.

Centre for Remote Sensing (CRS) - CRS has a laboratory equipped with basic tools required for Stereo-vision and Aerial Photo interpretation, viz. Pocket and Mirror stereoscopes, Parallax bars, aerial photographs, etc. The Centre also has a couple of image processing software. The Centre conducts theory and practical courses for various programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Admission to Foreign Nationals - Additional seats as percent of the sanctioned intake are reserved for Foreign Nationals (10 percent), Non Resident Indians (3 percent) and Person of Indian Origin (2 percent). They may apply along with documents and non-refundable registration fee of US dollar 300 to the School. The candidates who have qualified from the foreign boards, universities and recognized institutions as deemed equivalent by the AIU shall be considered. An NRI is eligible if she has studied abroad for five years in the last eight years of the stay and has passed the required qualifying examination from the country. Foreign nationals who are awarded Government of India scholarship under various schemes shall be given preference. They are required to submit their applications through the Ministry of Human Resource Development or Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India through their diplomatic channels.

Scholarships - A limited number of scholarships, each of the value of Rs.5,000 per month will be awarded on merit, and subject to terms and conditions prescribed by Government of India, AICTE, and the School from time to time for non-sponsored category of students admitted to master's programmes with valid GATE or CEED score(only for ID students), or who have qualified in the UGC (NET) JRF Examination.

The Audio Visual Unit - This Unit provides audio visual aids for making lectures, seminars and conferences more effective. It has the state of art audio visual aids including digital cameras, collar microphones, etc. Three officials of the School work in this Unit.

Conservation Materials Laboratory (CML) - The CML is equipped to carry out both physical examination under magnification, and chemical analysis for determining composition and characteristics of material mortals, etc. Visiting scientists associated with the ASI conduct regular courses for students of Architectural Conservation using this laboratory as a resource.

Workshop and Materials Testing Laboratory - Workshop at the SPA provides a range of training and maintenance services to the SPA students. The students are trained in basic carpentry and metal works, and have access to workshop facilities for making architectural models. The workshop is fully equipped for all categories of carpentry, machine tooling, welding and so on. Major responsibility for routine repairs and maintenance of various campus buildings also rests with the workshop personnel. Workshop Superintendent looks after the Workshop.

The National Resource Institution (NRI) - NRI under the National Programme for Capacity Building of Architects for Earthquake Risk Management organizes training programmes for faculty to impart basic knowledge on earthquake risk reduction in the country. These training programmes of the NRI are intended for faculty of Architecture, Relief Commissioners, Directors of Technical Education, Schools of Architecture, and architects working in government departments.

Documentation and Publications Unit - Printing of various research materials are requested by the departments of studies and administrative sections of the School.