The architectural masterpiece that saved a failing business school

Science · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1980s, IIM Bangalore faced a crisis of identity, paralyzed by internal dysfunction and a lack of interest from the government. It was only through a radical shift in leadership and a world-class architectural redesign that it transformed from a stagnant institution into a global model of excellence.

Established in 1973, IIM Bangalore initially struggled to find its footing. The first director attempted to focus exclusively on government-owned entities, but these organizations showed little interest in the institute's initiatives. By the 1980s, the school was mired in 'severe dysfunction' caused by external political leadership co-opting employee unions. This period of stagnation saw the faculty split into warring wings, leaving the institute in a state of administrative and identity crisis.

The turnaround began in 1985 when Joe Philip was appointed Director with a mandate to restore discipline. He pivoted the school away from its 'state-corp' focus, redesigned the flagship MBA courses, and resuscitated the doctoral program. This era of reform paved the way for Dr. K.R.S. Murthy in 1991, whose tenure during India's economic liberalization aligned the curriculum with global standards and established the institute as a premier destination for management education.

Central to this physical and intellectual rebirth was the campus design by Pritzker Prize laureate B.V. Doshi. Inspired by the 16th-century city of Fatehpur Sikri and the 13th-century Meenakshi Temple, Doshi created a 'poly-nuclear' design that blended Indian traditional architecture with modern principles. The 54,000 sq-m original complex uses hand-chipped granite and exposed concrete to create an interplay of light and shadow. Today, it is cited by architectural historians as a 'model' for educational institutions and is ranked among the most significant works of post-war architecture.

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topics-business-education-architecture

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