Solar water heater, solar electric panels, eco-friendly materials — the new campus of the Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation (GIFT) at Sreekaryam here finds the pride of place among green campuses in the city.
The campus of the institute, a centre of excellence engaged in research, training, consultancy and provision of policy inputs to the State government, is the first green campus in the State with GRIHA (green rating for integrated habitat assessment) certification. “An industrial shed of Keltron used to function here. It was demolished. When the new building was designed in 2007, we adopted eco-friendly practices,” says institute Registrar Thomas Joseph Thoomkuzhy.
Reusing materials
Not a single tree has been felled to build the new building. “A tree takes years to grow big. We took up the construction in a manner that trees did not have to be axed,” he says. The construction was so done that little dust by way of pollution was generated. Construction materials from the old building, such as bricks, have been reused. The materials used in the new building are eco-friendly such as unfinished granite stones, interlocking bricks for the car porch to avoid water run-off, and low VOC paint.
The building, designed keeping in mind the principles of Vaastu, faces the sea. Between the three-storey front block and the five-storey block behind is a naalukettu -like space that allows free air movement and welcomes sunlight and rain. Rat trap masonry walls have been used on the south side to reduce heat. The rainwater harvesting facility can store 2 lakh litres of water. Plenty of windows allow for maximum daylight.
Solar energy is used for inside and outside lighting, reducing the demand for conventional energy.
Eye on future
The building has also been designed keeping in mind future needs, especially against the backdrop of the institute’s collaboration with IIM-Kozhikode; National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi; National Law School of India University, Bengaluru; and National Law University, New Delhi.
The building houses state-of-the-art classrooms and training rooms, an auditorium with a seating capacity of 250, video conference halls, e-classrooms, and a 10,000 sq ft library.
The erstwhile Centre for Taxation Studies was renamed GIFT after the late Iqbal Singh Gulati, economist and social scientist who guided the State’s development from 1957 and was vice-chairman of the State Planning Board. The new campus will be inaugurated by Governor P. Sathasivam on Tuesday. Minister for Finance and Law K.M. Mani, who is also the chairman of the institute, will preside over the function.
