Name: Southeast University
Location: Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Architectural firm: Cubeinside
Lead architect: Khandaker Ashifuzzaman Rajon
Associate architect: Shakhawat Hossain Rocky, Mehri Farnaz, Md. Sharifuzzaman
Design Team: Asifa Islam, Usama Ibn Anwar
Client: Southeast University Trust
Area: 30,670 square metres
Year of Completion: 2023
Located in the dense urban centre of Dhaka, Southeast University’s (SEU) vertical campus soars into the city skyline with its student-centric design approach. Designed by Cubeinside, the Bangladesh-based firm fulfilled the need for an open campus by sculpting an immersive sky-lit atrium inside the building. Interlinked by bridges, corridors, and interactive pocket spaces, the interior of the sun-bathed orthogonal structure fosters vibrant gathering zones. The project received an Honourable Mention by Architecture Masterprize 2024 for seamlessly integrating vast functional requirements within rigid spatial and budget constraints.
The site of Southeast University is situated in Tejgaon, an industrial zone gradually transitioning into a commercial and institutional hub. One of the challenges the site presented was to create an educational environment in a neighbourhood predominantly occupied by factories and commercial buildings.
Moreover, Dhaka is a growing megacity of over 23.9 million people. The needs for urban amenities are required to be met within a scarcity of land. People from many parts of the country migrate to Dhaka for better opportunities, adding to the density. The urban sprawl of the capital of Bangladesh has left educational institutions struggling with limited resources. Cubeinside’s challenge to build a 30,670-square-meter educational facility for 12,000 students required more than just arranging floors on top of one another and stuffing them with rooms.
In the tropical monsoon climate, the city suffocates with hot spells during summer. Traffic, pollution and industrial waste worsen the situation. The architects responded to this context by adopting an introverted approach. While the outdoors is defined by minimal openings, the indoors reveals a vertical nexus facilitating the day-to-day humdrum of healthy campus life, turning away from the industrial environment.
The vertical campus is divided into distinct zones to maximise functionality and space efficiency. The ground floor houses common facilities such as a canteen, game room, stationery store, and reception area, which serves as a gathering place for students and visitors alike. Administrative offices on the first floor include the vice chancellor’s office, accounts, and admissions.
Classrooms, labs and other academic spaces can be found on the second through ninth floors of the building. The ninth floor houses a multipurpose hall. The library on the eighth floor stands out with modern interiors and discussion rooms to meet various academic needs.
The grand atrium-courtyard connects all floors with visual and physical continuity. It allows plenty of natural light to stream throughout the arena. The interplay of light, shadow, and air circulation breathes life into the building.
Higher education requires peer groups to discuss and study together, where communities are formed and future networks are established. Furthermore, students explore their potential and career plans during this phase. Cubeinside addresses psychology, thus the central space is crafted as a hub for informal interactions and meeting places. The vertical void gives the campus a contemporary character, which eventually plays a role in lifting the spirits of the students as well.
Cubeinside prioritised cost-efficiency and sustainability in both construction and long-term maintenance. The structural framework is a prefabricated steel system with concrete base supports, enabling faster construction. Floor plates are cast over metal decking sheets, while walls are built with locally sourced bricks and clad in red bricks for durability and vibrancy. The choice of materials reduces maintenance costs while enhancing thermal performance. The central court’s tempered glass cover balances heat gain with weather protection and mild steel railings finished with heat paint provide durability.
False ceilings carry service ducts and cable trays. Mild steel was used to fabricate them which were finished with heat paints.
In a city where rising construction costs and energy demands burden educational institutions, Cubeinside adopted strategies to ensure sustainability. Efficient cooling systems and thoughtful ventilation reduce operational energy consumption. The facade of the building features calculated openings. As the introverted design approach shifts the focal point of the building inwards, horizontal louvres, balconies and openings create an economical indoor-outdoor relationship, allowing the structure to breathe.
The group worked with associate architects Shakhawat Hossain Rocky, Mehri Farnaz, and Md. Sharifuzzaman under the direction of principal architect Khandaker Ashifuzzaman Rajon
Horizontal and vertical airflows are optimized through voids, louvred panels, and casement windows, ensuring a comfortable environment even in Dhaka’s humid climate.
Cubeinside’s Southeast University campus stands as a testament to innovative architectural solutions in urban education. The design not only overcomes spatial challenges but also creates a dynamic environment for students to learn, interact, and thrive.
Reference:
- Sadique, A. (2024) Cubeinside chisels a vertical void within South East University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, STIRworld. Available at: https://www.stirworld.com/see-features-cubeinside-chisels-a-vertical-void-within-south-east-university-in-dhaka-bangladesh (Accessed: 14 January 2025).
- South East University Campus CUBEINSIDE. Available at: https://cubeinsidebd.com/south-east-university-campus/ (Accessed: 14 January 2025).
- Miraz Hossain 09 July and Hossain, M. (2024) Why Southeast University’s new vertical campus draws in students, The Business Standard. Available at: https://www.tbsnews.net/features/habitat/why-south-east-universitys-new-vertical-campus-draws-students-895426 (Accessed: 14 January 2025).
