Training programme on ‘Enabling a low-impact approach to built environment’

Venue: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar     

A training programme titled 'Enabling a low-impact approach to built environment' is was conducted at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar.The programme was fourth of the training series under the MoU between CSE and GNDU to mainstream sustainability in academic curricula.

About 90 faculty and students of architecture and planning were trained on subjects ranging from thermal comfort parameters, environmental governance, affordable housing, vulnerability assessment, low-impact site planning and energy conservation building code for residential buildings. Dedicated sessions for architecture group and planning group were delivered separately. 

The faculty had expressed requirement for capacitation on how to address mobility in built environment. In response, day 3 of the programme comprised of sessions on Transit Oriented Development, low-carbon framework for mobility and urban planning, parking area management plan and prerogative for low-carbon transport, and emission modelling to inform land use planning and development changes. The sessions were conducted with support from mobility and APC team, Anannya Das and Tanushree Ganguly, respectively.

End of the programme saw convergence of diverse perspectives of architects, planners, urban designers and engineers, and resulted in proactive discussions. The faculty was intrigued by the new approaches to sustainable habitat planning and design demonstrated by CSE and complimented the team. The training content will be incorporated in theory courses and studio exercises.