INS & OUTS Expo Provides Students a Platform to Learn, Innovate and Showcase Their Talent: Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah
ARCHSPIRE winners recognised for innovative railway station redesign concepts; exhibitors felicitated in various categories
Chandigarh: The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) concluded the 12th edition of the INS & OUTS Expo with a Valedictory Session, celebrating young architectural talent through the ARCHSPIRE Competition and recognising outstanding exhibitors across various categories.
Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Secretary Tourism and Managing Director, CITCO, UT Chandigarh, emphasised the importance of providing young talent with platforms to learn, innovate and engage with real-world challenges. He appreciated the INS & OUTS Expo for bringing together industry, professionals and emerging talent and creating opportunities for interaction and exchange of ideas.
PHDCCI representatives highlighted that the INS & OUTS Expo is not only an industry platform but also provides opportunities for young talent and emerging professionals to interact with established industry members, exchange ideas and gain practical exposure. The ARCHSPIRE initiative was described as an effort to encourage architecture students to develop innovative solutions to real-world infrastructure challenges.
The ARCHSPIRE Competition provided architecture students with an opportunity to showcase their creativity, design thinking and innovative ideas. A total of 24 student teams participated in the initial round, of which 10 teams were shortlisted by the jury for the final stage. The shortlisted teams were assigned railway stations across India and asked to develop innovative architectural redesign concepts and models.
Among the winning entries, Chitkara University secured the first position for its innovative concept for Secunderabad Railway Station, while another team from Chitkara University secured the second position for its design concept for the Vizag and Vijayawada Railway Stations. Chandigarh University secured the third position for its redesign concept for Bathinda Railway Station. The projects reflected the students’ efforts to enhance functionality, passenger experience, accessibility and the overall architectural development of railway infrastructure.
The competition was evaluated by a jury comprising Ar. Kapil Sethia, Ar. Manmohan Khanna and Ar. Sapna, who assessed the entries on creativity, design approach, presentation, functionality and practical applicability.
Sh. Rajneesh Bansal, Chair, Chandigarh Chapter, PHDCCI, said that INS & OUTS received an excellent response and strong support from companies, architects, and students. He said the event was successfully organised with the collective cooperation and participation of all stakeholders.
Sh. Suvrat Khanna, Co-Chair, Chandigarh Chapter, PHDCCI, delivered the vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to all participants for their support and contribution. He said that PHDCCI will continue to organise such meaningful programmes and industry-focused initiatives in the future.
The Valedictory Session also witnessed the felicitation of exhibitors for their performance across various categories. Promark was recognised as the Best Innovation Winner, while Mars Power was declared the Best Innovation Runner-up. Kairvi Lighting received the Best Display Winner award, with Rajan Industry being named the Best Display Runner-up.
In the Best Footfall category, SakarnI was recognised as the winner, while Glass Palace received the Runner-up award. The recognitions acknowledged the exhibitors’ innovation, presentation, participation and engagement during the five-day exhibition.
On the occasion, Ms. Jigyasa Narula, Regional Director, PHDCCI, and Dr. Prabhjot Kaur, Director, IEE Lifts Pvt. Ltd., were present along with other dignitaries, industry representatives, architects, students and exhibitors.
