11 May,2009 09:11 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
College of Engineering will get new 12-storeyed hostel and academic building inspired by Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard
The 150-year-old College of Engineering, Pune (COEP) is all set to get a makeover, but the change doesn't stop there. It is set to revamp the life of students as well. The campus will boast of a 12-storeyed girls hostel and an academic building.
The architecture of these structures are inspired from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard's Graduate School of Design. The project will be overseen by renowned architect Christopher Benninger.
"I was inspired to construct the hostel andu00a0 the academic building from both the international institutes where I stayed as a student," Benninger told MiD DAY.u00a0 An Indian born in America, he studied urban planning at MIT and architecture at Harvard.
Vibrant look
According to him, the girls hostel will bring a modern and vibrant look to the COEP campus. In fact, the college's executive body has given Benninger the go ahead to adopt the MIT and Harvard culture on its campus, thus promoting the concept of co-education and making living conditions at hostels more liberal.
"Better livelihood and pleasant atmosphere will help enhance a student's personality," said Benninger.
Leading by example
The faculty is also planning to provide hi-tech services to students.u00a0 Dr Anil Sahastrabuddhe, director, COEP, said, "Puneties feel the need to change the face of education. By making supplementary services available to students we are making Pune the real Oxford of the east. Our 150-year-old institution can lead by
example."u00a0u00a0u00a0
