Manabik Shahajya Sangstha (MSS), a nongovernmental organization, approached Ci+AU to design a vocational education and training centre in Syedpur in the north-western region of Bangladesh to empower rural and periurban youth with practical skills and knowledge for their sustainable employment.
For this challenging site in Syedpur, we conceived an innovative and inclusive state-of-the-art facility that provides an inspiring learning environment for vocational education. The masterplan weaves together admin offices, academic blocks, labs, library, computer centers, cafeteria, and dorms around created and natural water bodies and green courtyards. Meant to be a “lifestyle” campus for future workforce, the first task of our design is to inspire through the language of architecture. Given a limited budget, the design emphasizes economic sustainability, while ensuring an inclusive educational experience for all students.