Project Location        : Rajshahi
Project Type               : Office Building
Project Status            : Competition (3rd Place Winner), Unbuild
Year of Completion   : 2024
Land Area                   : 2.3 Acres (9368 SqM)
Built Area                    : 

In the context of a worldwide energy crisis and diminishing energy resources, IAB launched a competition to design the NESCO headquarters building in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The competition site was situated in the historical contextual vicinity of the Rajshahi Medical College. The competition required a sensitive and innovative solution using a passive design approach and designing a building focusing on environmental performance.

JHA, as a competition participant, approached a unique challenge as a platform to exercise and showcase their sensitive approach towards sustainability in practice. The studio wanted to provide a public plaza accessible to the general public which opens toward a central courtyard respecting the traditional courtyard-centric houses and existing trees to regulate the thermal comfort and ventilation process of the whole complex. The Main control center building has multiple functional requirements in which the conventional design process needs a structure with considerable depth, which limits the light and air accessibility within the building. The studio addressed this challenge by designing two mono-grid towers around a central courtyard. This allowed the intervention of a thin building where light and cross-ventilated air amply permeates providing a healthy workplace for the users. The facade treatment had two considerations in the design process, cutting the direct glare of the sun and a traditional, cost-effective, and buildable simple solution that is sustainable and energy efficient. Through exercise and iterations, the team developed a simple but rational deep grid-based facade through environmental simulations which prevented glare and offered a traditional but contemporary and aesthetic facade for the users and the passers-by.

In recognition of the team’s enthusiastic approach toward achieving sustainable, energy-efficient ideas and fresh, innovative, and inclusive solutions the firm was awarded third position nationally, this was a testament to their professional commitment and ethical approach in their practice.