UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS

2003 – Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak
Educational Building

University Technology PETRONAS or UTP is located within the beautiful and dramatic landscape of Bandar Seri Iskandar, 300km north of Kuala Lumpur. 

The design concept of the master plan utilised a circle to describe the well-rounded graduates that UTP seek to produce. The Star – the form evolved out of the aspiration of the academic master plan and site positioning – is a symbol of quality and excellence. The core of the UTP development is located in the valley with five saddles from the surrounding hills blessed with dense tropical rain forest and natural terrains. Using the star configuration as a starting point and fusing the brief resulted in a layout that was organic and responsive to its surrounding.

Within the centre of the layout is the central park, whereas the convex parts of the layout embrace the natural surrounding. The Chancellor Complex beckons the public to the University via a well-proportioned plaza. The ‘drum-like’ building acts as a gateway into the campus. The steel and glass structure gives a sense of space to the area and reveals the functional usage of the building as well as the intricate but subtle traditional ‘songket’ design of the cladding.

The 4-storey academic blocks were designed, based on a modular dimension to accommodate the needs of various faculties. With the modular design, the buildings enable the accommodation of learning spaces and laboratories of various sizes.

The ‘pockets’ which house businesses, academic and social amenities such as banking facilities, cafeteria, shops, a post-office, a clinic and prayer halls, are strategically located at the confluence of the academic blocks. The buildings are painted with bright colours that contribute to a lively campus atmosphere. A prominent feature of the development is the ‘crescent-form’ canopy, which integrates the built form. It follows the natural flow of the landscape and provides shelter from the elements. The canopy, supported by slender columns, intersects to encircle a central landscape park. It forms a visually unifying element for the diverse buildings. Underneath this canopy, the deck provides the primary pedestrian link throughout the site with seating areas.

In collaboration with Foster + Partners