Marking a major milestone, the Department of Architecture at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), alongside the Alumni of AUST Architects (AAA), recently wrapped up its grand two-day anniversary festival, "Bridging Generations: The Future We Build". Hosted right on the university campus, the landmark celebration brought together a vibrant community of current students, alumni, faculty, and prominent figures from the broader architectural fraternity. The university campus came alive with a festive atmosphere that reflected three decades of architectural education, creativity, and professional achievement.

Established in 1995 under the leadership of the founding Head and Dean, Prof. Dr. M. A. Muktadir, the department has become one of Bangladesh's leading schools of architecture. Its five-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program is fully accredited by the Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), and the department introduced its Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) program in 2016.

Over the years, AUST has earned recognition both nationally and internationally. Its students have received honors in global design competitions, including the Texas A&M University International Design Competition and the Tamayouz Excellence Award. Alumni have also secured fully funded scholarships to the UNESCO-partnered BASEhabitat International Summer School in Austria.

Also, faculty members of the department have won prestigious awards such as the Porcelanosa International Project Award (PIPA) and the Berger Award for Excellence in Architecture. Students regularly dominate national design competitions and top major events like the Shah Cement DOT Student Design Awards.

Inauguration of the 30th Anniversary Celebration (Source: Social Media)

Professor Dr. M. A. Muktadir (Source: Sthapattya O Nirman)

The festival kicked off on July 2 with 'Threads of Time', a day-long national student design charrette that brought together creative minds from architecture departments across Bangladesh. Following the competition, the opening ceremony was held at the Prof. Dr. M. H. Khan Auditorium.  

A special highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the “Lifetime Achievement Award” to Prof. Dr. M. A. Muktadir, the founding Head and Dean of the department, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to architectural education. The department also unveiled its 30th anniversary commemorative book featuring selected student projects and then inaugurated “The Lines of Tomorrow,” an exhibition showcasing the work of students and alumni, which remained open to the public until July 5.

Professor Dr. M. A. Muktadir was awarded a lifetime achievement award (Source: Social Media)

Inauguration Ceremony (Source: Sthapattya O Nirman)

Inauguration Ceremony (Source: Social Media)

Exhibition featuring selected works by current students and Alumni (Source: Social Media)

Exhibition featuring selected works by current students and Alumni (Source: Social Media)

On July 3, the festival focused on the future of architecture through two seminars. The morning session, 'School of the Future: The Architectural Blueprint', featured prominent speakers including Architect Mustapha Khalid, Dr. Shariff Shams Imon, Dr. Saiful Islam, Architect Ashik Vaskor Mannan, and Sri Lankan international architect Damith C. Premathilake. The panel emphasized the urgent need for design pedagogy to pivot toward tech-driven, sustainable frameworks to tackle global climate challenges. In the afternoon, a second panel titled 'The Architectural Journey: Learning from Experience' saw architects Zishan Fuad Choudhury, Rokun Uddin Bhuiyan, and Md. Shafiul Azam Shamim shares candid, real-world insights on navigating local professional challenges and stepping into creative entrepreneurship.

First Session of the Seminar (Source: Social Media)

Second Session of the Seminar (Source: Social Media)

The event concluded with prize-giving for the design charrette, recognition of students involved in the Urban Design Studio Project with the Urban Development Directorate (UDD), and the launch of an alumni monograph by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Ashraful Hoque.

A cultural program by current and former students brought the celebrations to a memorable close. Ultimately, this event was about much more than looking back at the past thirty years; by building a meaningful bridge across generations, it opened up a collaborative vision for how seasoned professionals and the next wave of designers will work together to shape a sustainable, forward-thinking future.

Prize-giving Ceremony of the Design Charrette (Source: Social Media)

The Launch of an Alumni Monograph (Source: Social Media)

Cultural Program by Current Students and Alumni (Source: Social Media)