DRMC finalises new academic building design through national competition

Dhaka Residential Model College (DRMC), one of the country's leading educational institutions established in 1960, has finalised the design of its new academic building through a national architectural design competition.

Situated on a 52-acre campus, the institution currently accommodates around 6,000 students across various grades. However, the existing infrastructure, built decades ago, has become insufficient to meet growing academic and space needs. The authorities have therefore undertaken an initiative to construct a new multi-storied academic building and revise the overall campus master plan.

To ensure a design that is innovative, environmentally responsive, aesthetically pleasing, sustainable, cost-effective and student-friendly, an architectural design competition was organised. The objective was to select a building concept that integrates with the campus environment while enriching students' daily academic experience.

The competition was jointly organised by the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) and DRMC authorities. The call for entries was announced on 5 October, with nearly 150 architectural consultancy firms registering to participate. Around 100 design proposals were submitted. Following review and evaluation by the jury board, the winners were selected.

The award-giving ceremony and the inauguration of a public exhibition featuring the top six design proposals were held on Saturday evening at the IAB premises in Agargaon.

Md Mahbubur Rahman Haque Patwari, additional secretary (Planning Wing) of the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education, attended the event as chief guest. Special guests included Brig Gen Mohammad Zahir Hossain, principal of DRMC, and Ahmed Ashfaqur Rahman, publishing secretary of the Old Remians Welfare Association. The programme was presided over by Architect Professor Dr Abu Sayeed M Ahmed, president of the 26th National Executive Council of the IAB.

Others present included representatives of DRMC, members of the competition jury, and senior architects, including Architect Jalal Ahmed, principal architect of J A Architects; Architect Patrick D Rozario, principal architect of Synthesis Architects; and Architect Prof SM Nazim Uddin Pal from the Department of Architecture at Khulna University.

The results of the competition were:

• First prize: Form Three Architects (3.Architects), led by principal architect Dilruba Islam Binte Iya

• Second prize: ArchiGround Limited, led by Architect Nobi Newaz Khan

• Third prize: Arcadian Architects, led by Architect Towhidul Latif

Jillur D Consultants, Kshetra, and Rooflines Studio of Architecture received special mentions.

The first-prize-winning design has been selected for implementation. According to Form Three Architects, the proposed design was developed based on an understanding of DRMC's heritage, spatial character, cultural values and students' daily experiences. The design places special emphasis on the formative years of secondary-level students and aims to create an academic environment that supports holistic development.

The exhibition of shortlisted design proposals will be open to the public from 8 to 10 February 2026 at the IAB Centre, from 12:00pm to 8:00pm daily.