Reimagining Buildings in the Tricity

Reimagining the Future of the Tricity: CCF–Plaksha Conference Marks Chandigarh @75 Milestone

Chandigarh | April 11, 2026
As part of the ongoing celebrations marking 75 years of the making of Chandigarh, the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF), in collaboration with the Indorama Ventures Center for Clean Energy (IVCCE), Plaksha University, successfully convened a high-level conference on “Reimagining Buildings in the Tricity – Continuing the Legacy.”
The conference brought together an eminent cross-section of policymakers, architects, engineers, urban planners, industry leaders, and academicians to deliberate on the future trajectory of the Chandigarh Tricity—Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula—and to explore how the region can sustain its legacy as India’s most planned urban ecosystem over the next five decades.

Conference Focus
The deliberations centred on practical, scalable pathways for designing and operating buildings that are:

• Energy-efficient and climate-responsive
• Aligned with net-zero carbon goals
• Healthy and occupant-centric
• Technology-enabled and future-ready
• Key thematic areas included the impact of artificial intelligence, emerging building materials, renewable energy integration, emission reduction strategies, urban agriculture, and the role of policy and design in enabling sustainable urban transitions.

Distinguished Participation
The programme was inaugurated in the presence of senior dignitaries and domain experts.
Mr. J.M. Balamurugan, IAS (Retd.), representing CCF, articulated the Foundation’s vision for sustainable and inclusive urban development in the Tricity.
Ar. Kapil Setia, Former Chief Architect of Chandigarh, offered valuable historical insights into the evolution and preservation of the city’s planned character.
Dr. Rudra Pratap, Vice Chancellor, Plaksha University, highlighted the role of academic institutions in shaping future-ready urban ecosystems.
Dr. Vishal Garg, Director, IVCCE, emphasised the integration of technologies such as district cooling, thermal storage, cool roofs, and smart grids into urban planning.

Keynote Addresses & Panel Discussions
The keynote address on “Global Megatrends: The Tricity Lens” by Mr. Ashish Rakheja provided a global perspective on the forces reshaping urban environments and their relevance to the local context.
A second keynote, “Less is More,” by Ar. Ravi Sarangan, underscored the importance of adaptive reuse of buildings in sustainable urban development.
Two high-impact panel discussions explored:
Future Buildings: Design, Technology and Innovation
Enabling Implementation: Policy, Regulation and the Role of Developers
These sessions facilitated rich dialogue on bridging innovation with implementation and aligning policy frameworks with sustainability goals.

Way Forward
The conference is envisioned as the first in a series of structured engagements aimed at catalysing collaborative action among stakeholders. It sets the stage for more formal policy dialogues and planning interventions that will guide the Tricity’s growth trajectory.
As aptly noted during the discussions, this initiative marks the beginning of a sustained effort to ensure that Chandigarh continues to hold its pole position as India’s most planned and progressive city.

Acknowledgements
The conference was organised by the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF) in collaboration with the Indorama Ventures Center for Clean Energy (IVCCE), Plaksha University, with support from ASHRAE Chandigarh Chapter, ISHRAE Chandigarh Chapter, and IGBC.

Preserving legacy. Enabling innovation. Shaping a sustainable future for the Tricity.

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