Messrs. Atelier Announced Winners of the Architectural Design Competition for the Student Experience Centre

Messrs. Atelier has been named the winner of the architectural design competition for the Student Experience Centre, a UG@75 Legacy Project.  

The design company received a dummy cheque for GH¢ 1,382,400, while Messrs. Multi Cad and Messrs. Spektra Global, which placed second and third respectively, received GH¢ 691,200 and GH¢ 230,400.  

The 7 other contesting firms received cheques for GH¢64,000. 

The jury, which consisted of members of the Ghana Institute of Architects, members of the UG@75 Planning Committee, staff and a student, went through a rigorous vetting procedure before making their decision.  

The $80 million project, which is expected to be completed in 24 months, will include two large auditoriums for seating 2,000 and 3,000 people, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) centre, students’ lounge, multiple restaurants, cinema halls and a hotspot comfort zone, among other things.  

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, in congratulating all participating firms, noted that ‘‘Our first Strategic Priority is ‘Transformative Student Experience.’ We want our students to come here and not leave as they came.’’ 

President of the Ghana Institute of Architects, Arc. Foster Osae-Akonnor expressed gratitude for the collaboration with the University on this project. “The project began in September 2023 and we worked closely with Eban Capital to develop the competition guidelines,” he said.  

He also highlighted certain criteria the winning scheme met in making it a smart 21st century learning environment. “The criteria included sustainability, meaning the building must be smart and utilise renewable energy and water conservation practices. This winning design incorporates all these elements.” 

Fiifi Samuel Otchere, Secretary of the Ghana Institute of Architects, explained how the GIA developed engineering software with the aim of ensuring a smooth and fair submission process. 

He added that shortlisted firms underwent training to use the platform, after which they registered on it and received unique IDs for anonymity during the evaluation. “On the day of submission, competitors uploaded their entries through the app, and IT support was available for any issues,” he added. The portal closed automatically after the deadline. 

Providing more details on the rigorous process, Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Chair of both the 75th Anniversary Planning Committee, who served as the Jury Chair, explained that “This was an opportunity for us to show a building that is not only architecturally sound but also aesthetically pleasing, that will meet the needs of students,” she said. 

She continued that the jury reviewed the designs over three days, with each juror scoring the entries individually, emphasising that they maintained confidentiality and fairness during the process. “There was an opportunity to have a discussion and we did our scores secretly. All the scores were entered on paper first, and the scores were entered again individually on the GIA competition website, where they were automatically collated,” Prof. Ampofo added. 

Central Materials Officer, Mrs. Rita Appiah-Kubi, outlined the transparent and efficient process followed to select a design firm for the competition. “We advertised the impression of interest in the Daily Graphic newspaper and received submissions from 18 firms,” she said.  

After evaluating the firms based on published criteria, 12 were shortlisted. “The 12 firms were then provided with a request for proposal and a dossier prepared by the Ghana Institute of Architects. The competition closed on October 4, 2024, with 11 firms submitting their proposals,” she articulated.  

Mr. Jim Amegah, CEO of Eban Capital, the firm contracted to raise funds for the project, explained how the project will be financed. “We need to work with the winners to come up with the detailed costing and then work with the donors to put in the resources and then we can break ground to start,” he said.  

Mr. Amegah added that plans are underway to secure over half of the project's total cost before initiating construction. Speaking on timelines for the completion of the project, he noted that the timeline for the project will be determined by the chosen contractor, who will be selected through a competitive process. 

In earlier remarks, Co-chair of the 75th Planning Anniversary Committee, Prof. Clement Appah, expressed excitement about the Student Experience Centre and envisions it as a hub for innovation and personal growth, where students can experiment with ideas and develop themselves beyond academics. “We are hoping that this will be the beginning of a trajectory that will make the whole nation benefit,” he said.