This AIT-SAP alumnus has made it a habit to deliver mega architectural projects

“I learnt some great chapters of professional and personal life while I was at Apeejay Institute of Technology – School of Architecture & Planning (AITSAP) between 2005 and 2011. In fact, I redefined all my definitions and found a ‘new me’ during this phase of my college life,” says alumnus Anoop Kr. Yadav. Currently, the Associate Director with Blue Space Design Studio, the architect and planning professional has 11+ years of insightful experience working on mega projects and super structures in public transit and the aviation field like Metro Transit System (MTS) and helipad within the country and abroad along with leading organisations providing their services in India with enhanced dimensions.  In an interview, Anoop shares about the milestones he has achieved and more. Edited excerpts:

You have a strong background in working with projects related to Metro Transit System, helipads as well as other public and institutional buildings. How did you embark on this journey?

Being associated with several MNCs, I was given the responsibility to look after the project on the Police Headquarter in Naya Raipur which required a Helipad and Service blocks in the later stage of finishing the project. In addition, Rohini heliport in Delhi is one of the iconic projects I delivered in the early stage of my career. 

I have also worked on some of the tough projects for Kochi Depot and Metro where many more interesting challenges surfaced for me. These are major points when I found myself proactively inclined towards taking up upcoming challenges and finding solutions for the same. This self-chasing passion led me to join Lucknow Metro as a General Consultant (Architecture) in 2016 when we also worked for Kanpur and Agra Metro. Lucknow Metro-ROD (Revenue Operation Date) was September 5, 2017 and Kanpur Metro-ROD was December 28, 2021. I am also the Project Coordinator (Architecture) for Indore Metro, looking after the entire stretch of Phase-1 and parallelly involved in the work process of Kolkata and Surat Metro projects. The happiest day of my life was when my third metro project was delivered for public services and we celebrated hard. 

Did you think that you would become an architect and planning professional when you were younger? What inspired you? 

I used to chase my upgraded version every time. I was challenged as well as inspired to work for mega projects from a very early age (when I was a teenager around 1999). This passion led me to join AIT-SAP to pursue my architecture degree. While I was searching for career options, I came across many architects and realised that there’s always an architect for each project. The whole project idea is all about execution of designer’s ideology and thoughts with a target to fulfill the given purpose while integrating the key functions within itself.   

Tell us about the time you spent at AIT-SAP?

I have learnt some of the great chapters of life at AIT-SAP. My inspiration to fight every challenge has been my wife, Ar. Vinkita Mishra (Honours in Architecture and a Gold Medalist), and a few close friends whom I found in my college and they are still with me. I would also  like to express my special thanks to our ‘Think Tank’ Late Professor M. R. Agnihotry, our former Director, Anuraj Verma Sir, and some of the visiting faculty members like Chandra Bhusan Sir, Vijay Garg Sir and Ashutosh Agrawal Sir. All of them taught me to look at any challenging situation from a very different perspective and that would help in finding the associated solutions as well. They nurtured in me that every problem has an associated route of it’s solutions; the only thing is to find it out. This kind of guidance provided me with an ability to redefine myself.  

Please share any life lessons that you picked up when you were in AIT-SAP that helped you later in your professional journey.

Well as I already mentioned, I like to learn with challenging situations which help me a lot to continuously refine myself. When I was in college this approach made me more mature than ever before. It led me to become an architect having ‘high values along with quality deliverables.’  So ‘a commitment to quality is my thread of righteousness’.  

Sustainable design/architecture has of late become a buzzword. How does an architect take care of this aspect while creating good-looking buildings in India?

Well, for me, a design which has some purpose to serve must have a well-versed aspect of sustainability. A very famous quote I learnt in college: “Architecture is not about learning science or Art, but it’s a way to provide a platform where you combine both in a well functional way. No matter how you achieve the best.”  

Is architecture a good career choice in India? Please share your views and some success tips for aspirants planning to pursue a career in the same?

 Success has a different definition for each person. It also depends on one’s thought process and attitude. Moreover, it’s important to be well-versed with your profession and your passion will lead you to the right path. So dear aspirants, follow your passion, give your best, and success will follow you wherever you go.