Bimal Patel to shape Cept now

It was an emotional moment for many at Centre for environmental planning and technology (Cept) as Rasu Vakil, the president, honorary director and one of the founders bid adieu to the institute after an association of more than five decades. Board of management at the Cept University announced young architect Bimal Patel as president of the institute.

On Saturday, after a short meeting of the board of management headed by chairman Sanjay Lalbhai, Patel was chosen as the new president of the institute. Tenure of the president is of five years at Cept.  In the meeting, it was also decided that till a full-time director is appointed, Patel will also be the in-charge director of the premier institute.

Of the short-listed two names that were discussed in the meeting, Patel was competing with Dr Vikramaditya Prakash, professor of landscape architecture and adjunct professor of urban design and planning at the University of Washington.

Cept officials said that final decision on the name of new president was taken after flurry of meetings, discussion with faculties and alumni of the institute. Feedback on the short-listed candidate’s name was also taken from faculties and alumni. The two candidates had made a presentation on their vision for Cept. 

“I have been entrusted with the task of leading Cept university and working along with everyone associated with it, towards its all round development. I feel honored and humbled by the responsibility and faith placed in me,” said Patel in a statement. Patel is son of one of the founding members of the institute and a known architect Hasmukh Patel. Patel, an alumnus of 1984 batch of Cept has dual post graduation degree and a doctor of philosophy degree from University of California, US.

Patel has designed the Sabarmati Riverfront project undertaken by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and was also the brain behind the much talked about recreation space, Kankaria Lakefront development.

Vakil had founded Cept with eminent architect BV Doshi in 1962 when school of architecture was started. Vakil was dean of Cept from 1983 and was made president and honorary director when it was given the university status.

Under Vakil’s leadership, Cept University has grown from one course to 22 post graduate courses, 4 graduate courses and 20 centres to boost research.