CEPT University Students Bring India Its First Victory at ULI Hines Student Asia Pacific Competition – OXBIG NEWS NETWORK-OxBig News Network

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Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], May 29: In a landmark achievement, a group of 5 college students from CEPT University have clinched first place within the 2025 ULI Hines Student Competition – Asia Pacific, inserting CEPT on the worldwide map as the primary Indian establishment to win this internationally famend competitors in its 23-year historical past. The winners had been introduced immediately on the ULI Asia Pacific Summit in Hong Kong, the place the CEPT group introduced their visionary proposal earlier than an viewers of worldwide trade leaders, lecturers, and friends.

This yr’s competitors noticed participation from 33 multidisciplinary groups throughout 10 nations and territories within the Asia Pacific area. Finalist groups included CEPT University (India), The University of Melbourne (Australia), and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand). CEPT University had first entered the competitors in 2024 and secured the primary runner-up place.

Representing India because the Zoning Out Crew, the profitable group included Danish Sikkander, Pooja Save, Pranav Amarnath, and Rishi Kumar from the Master’s in Urban Design, and Sriram Soni from the Master’s in Urban Infrastructure program. The group labored below the mentorship of Purvi Chhadva, Program Chair of the Master’s in Urban Design, and Dr. Mona Iyer, college member at Faculty of Planning, CEPT University.

As a part of their prize, the group will obtain ULI memberships, journey and lodging assist, and the chance to interact with main international professionals in actual property, planning, and concrete innovation.

The proposal ‘Kai Tak 2050: The Active Shared City’ submitted by CEPT University college students reimagined the Kai Tak Waterfront in Hong Kong as a next-generation ‘sharing metropolis’–a vibrant city mannequin the place density, built-in infrastructure, and community-driven design foster innovation, sustainability, and inclusive development. The idea was anchored in 5 core pillars: shared mobility, inexperienced areas, dwelling, tradition, and sources. The group proposed an city future the place sharing just isn’t a compromise however a way to raise high quality of life. By treating density as a bonus, encouraging social interplay and energetic dwelling, and fostering financial self-sufficiency, the proposal positions Kai Tak as a possible international benchmark for future high-density, livable, and resilient cities.

The proposal featured a car-free, multi-level transit system, climate-resilient parks and rooftop farms, co-living and innovation hubs, a cultural hall for studying and creativity, and a zero-carbon district powered by renewable vitality and round programs. Together, these parts fashioned a forward-looking, inclusive city blueprint. The jury praised the submission for its originality, monetary feasibility, and community-first approach–recognizing it as a scalable and future-forward mannequin for equitable and sustainable city improvement.

CEPT pupil Rishi Kumar, who led the Zoning Out Crew, mentioned, “Leading the group within the ULI Hines Competition was an unimaginable expertise of collaboration and development. Each member deepened their skills–from technique and storytelling to visualization and sensible implementation–allowing us to craft a considerate, well-rounded design. Together, we embraced various views and sharpened our skill to design past standard boundaries.”

Reflecting on the importance of this achievement, Prof. Shalini Sinha, Dean, Faculty of Planning at CEPT University, emphasised the worldwide relevance of the scholars’ strategy and the tutorial ethos that formed it. “This award isn’t just a celebration of design excellence however a testomony to our curriculum that encourages important considering, collaboration, and socially responsive city options. It reinforces our perception that considerate planning, when backed by rigorous evaluation and innovation, can drive transformative change,” she mentioned.

Praising the group’s exemplary efficiency and the worldwide recognition the scholars have received, Prof Barjor Mehta, President of CEPT University, mentioned, “This win is a proud second. Our college students have demonstrated that daring, people-centric ideas–when grounded in feasibility–can form international conversations on the way forward for cities. This achievement is a milestone and a mirrored image of our rising function in shaping international city futures.”

Organised by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) in partnership with Hines, the ULI Hines Student Competition – Asia Pacific is thought to be the area’s most prestigious city concepts problem. It invitations final-year undergraduate and graduate college students to kind interdisciplinary groups and reply to real-world city improvement eventualities with revolutionary, sustainable, and financially viable proposals. Teams are given three weeks to ship a complete vision–covering planning, design, and monetary analysis–for an actual web site in a serious Asia Pacific metropolis.

The profitable proposal could be accessed on-line. To view the narrative abstract, click on: https://asia.uli.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/3_8224_The-Active-Shared-City_NarrativeSummary.pdf

About CEPT University

CEPT University is a acknowledged chief in schooling and analysis within the areas of structure, planning, design, expertise and concrete administration. Its instructing packages intention to construct considerate professionals and its analysis packages deepen understanding in its areas of experience. CEPT University additionally undertakes advisory initiatives to assist the nationwide, state and metropolis governments and enormous sections of personal trade. Through its schooling, analysis and advisory actions, the University strives to contribute to enriching the lives of individuals in India’s villages, cities and cities.

The University includes 5 schools: viz. the Faculty of Architecture, the Faculty of Planning, the Faculty of Technology, the Faculty of Design, and the Faculty of Management. In December 2023, CEPT University was acknowledged by the Government of India as a Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design. This comes with an endowment of Rs. 250 Crore for use in the direction of the analysis and coaching on India particular data in Urban Planning and Design over the subsequent 25 years.

CEPT University was established by the CEPT University Act of 2005 enacted by the federal government of Gujarat. It was initially began in 1962 because the School of Architecture supported by the Ahmedabad Education Society. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) of the Government of India acknowledges the University as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO). CEPT University is acknowledged as a Center of Excellence by the Government of Gujarat. CEPT University has over 30 ongoing collaborations and trade packages with top-ranked universities the world over.

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