BASE University

Conceived by the Government of Karnataka to commemorate Dr. B. R. Ambedkar — architect of the Indian Constitution and an economist who was the first Indian to earn a doctorate from the London School of Economics — BASE University was envisioned as a future-focused higher-education campus for academic excellence, research, collaboration, and interdisciplinary learning. Drawing on a study of leading economics institutions around the world, Education Design International shaped a program built to “think global yet act local,” organizing flexible academic environments, research spaces, collaborative commons, and student-centered gathering areas into a vibrant, intellectually engaging campus. The fully residential, 43-acre campus is designed to sit lightly in its landscape: a natural creek crossing the site was reshaped into a bioswale that supports biodiversity, and locally sourced materials keep the buildings’ embodied energy and carbon footprint low.

The plan emphasizes strong connections between formal and informal learning while supporting student wellbeing, innovation, and community interaction, with shared learning commons, collaborative study environments, faculty interaction spaces, and adaptable teaching settings woven throughout to encourage dialogue, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary engagement. Across the grounds, an administration block, an 800-seat auditorium, dedicated academic buildings for undergraduate, postgraduate, and research scholars, and a round-the-clock learning, media, and student community centre are paired with generous outdoor learning spaces, in keeping with the Indian tradition of teaching both indoors and in the open landscape. The result is a dynamic educational ecosystem aligned with BASE’s mission of developing future leaders, economists, researchers, and policy thinkers prepared to address complex global challenges.