CEPT University Team Wins Prestigious ULI Hines Asia Pacific Competition
Competing against top institutions like The University of Melbourne and Chulalongkorn University, CEPT’s victory follows their first runner-up finish in 2024.
CEPT University’s “Zoning Out Crew” has secured India’s first-ever victory at the 2025 ULI Hines Student Competition – Asia Pacific, outshining 33 elite teams from 10 countries. Announced at the ULI Asia Pacific Summit in Hong Kong, the win marks a historic milestone for the Ahmedabad-based institution, cementing its place on the global urban design stage.
The winning team—Danish Sikkander, Pooja Save, Pranav Amarnath, Rishi Kumar (Master’s in Urban Design), and Sriram Soni (Master’s in Urban Infrastructure)—crafted a visionary proposal titled “Kai Tak 2050: The Active Shared City.” Mentored by Purvi Chhadva and Dr. Mona Iyer, the team reimagined Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Waterfront as a car-free, sustainable “sharing city” with climate-resilient parks, co-living hubs, and a zero-carbon district. The jury lauded its originality, financial viability, and community-driven approach, calling it a scalable blueprint for future cities.
“Our design embraces density as an asset, fostering shared mobility, green spaces, and inclusive growth,” said team leader Rishi Kumar. “This win reflects our collective passion for innovative urban solutions.”
Competing against top institutions like The University of Melbourne and Chulalongkorn University, CEPT’s victory follows their first runner-up finish in 2024. The team earns ULI memberships, travel support, and access to global industry leaders.
“This achievement showcases CEPT’s commitment to critical thinking and transformative urban design,” said Prof. Shalini Sinha, Dean of Faculty of Planning. President Barjor Mehta added, “Our students have proven that bold, people-centric ideas can redefine global urban futures.”
The ULI Hines Competition, organized by the Urban Land Institute and Hines, challenges students to deliver innovative, sustainable urban proposals.
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Over the past three years of placements, a fluctuating trend was recorded in the MArch placement rate. Refer to the table below to know the exact numbers:
| Particulars | MArch Placement Statistics (2021) | MArch Placement Statistics (2022) | MArch Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Students | 208 | 202 | 218 |
| Students placed | 200 | 153 | 204 |
| Placement Rate | 96% | 76% | 94% |
NOTE: The placement details mentioned above are from the NIRF report 2024.
The table below represents the CEPT University BArch placement trends for better understanding:
| Particulars | BArch Placement Statistics (2021) | BArch Placement Statistics (2022) | BArch Placement Statistics (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Students | 99 | 102 | 93 |
| Students placed | 53 | 59 | 47 |
| Placement Rate | 54% | 58% | 51% |
NOTE: The placement details mentioned above are from the NIRF report 2024.
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Abhay an alumnus of IIMC and Delhi University, has over a decade long experience of reporting on various beats of journalism. During his free time he prefers listening to music or play indoor and outdoor games.
A fluctuating trend was recorded in BArch and MArch placement rate over the past three years (2021 to 2023). The table below mentions the CEPT University placement trends for a detailed analysis:
NOTE: The placement details mentioned above are from the NIRF report 2024.