Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA) is an administrative training institute and meets the training needs of government departments, officials and stakeholders.

As an institute, YASHADA has grown substantially in its scope and area spread. Given the condition of its existing Baner campus, there is a limited scope of expansion, and hence, the institute seeks to develop a satellite campus. The academy was provided possession of a 120-acre site at Tathawade, near Pimpri-Chinchwad, for the development of the extension campus. The masterplan would determine how the campus will grow and develop over the coming years.

The masterplan seeks to determine further growth of the campus by addressing the requisite program and designing with future imperatives in mind. The key ideas like sustainability, energy efficiency, people connect, interdisciplinary exchanges, efficient planning, and scalability follow through at different levels and layers within the project.

The masterplan and its zoning was to be envisioned in a way that the development facilitates the allocation and distribution of ‘decentralized-educational infrastructure’ among various departments under institutional ties with YASHADA. Therefore, a requirement for a modular and scalable form of the campus was put forward. The resolve for such a brief was addressed through a ‘cluster-oriented approach’, which would facilitate a phase-wise development of self-sustaining clusters. This approach emphasizes the categorization of the overall development program into smaller and decentralized parts.

While each cluster is designed as a self-sustainable cluster to the architectural program, facilities, and infrastructure. The common amenities would be shared among these clusters. Under the umbrella of ‘YASHADA as a host’, the common facilities would include an international standard sports complex, auditorium, amphitheater, conventional center, student amenities plaza, etc.

In the purview of sustainable development of the campus, the design and planning echoes the aspects of water harvesting and management, solar energy, green landscape, walkability, and pedestrianization. A central lake was to be created on the site to harvest the surface run-off water, and the water captured from the roofs was to be stored and reused for drinking. Harvesting of solar energy would include a solar farm, solar trees dotted within the landscape, and solar panels on individual buildings. This would be a major supply of electrical power.

People’s connect was also a keen focus in the planning, wherein numerous facilities were planned that would  act as the public interface of the campus I.e would be accessible to the general public, craftsmen, etc. Such facilities include a convention center, exhibition ground, and a ‘Haat’ as well – where traditional arts/ handicrafts would be exhibited to the citizens of Pune.

The masterplan has evolved with multiple discussions with the client and the sub-stakeholders and has finally been translated into the current form. Considerations of equidistant access, phase-wise development, sustainability, memory and pride, and integrated planning have largely influenced the overall form and development of the campus.