St. Joseph’s College of Law, Bengaluru by BetweenSpaces

St. Joseph’s College of Law is a distinguished part of St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru, originally founded in 1882 by the Fathers of the French Foreign Mission. The college became part of the “Society of Jesus” in 1937, continuing a legacy of Catholic education emphasizing intellectual growth and community engagement.

Designed by BetweenSpaces, the new college building embodies a careful balance between heritage, urban constraints, and modern educational needs. The project was driven by four key factors: limited urban space, the historic campus context, a vibrant student body, and a complex academic program.

Site & Context

Situated on a compact site slightly over an acre, the building is located in one of Bengaluru’s oldest educational campuses. The southern side faces the main road, the west neighbors an older campus block, and the north opens onto a playground. A future development space was retained on the eastern side.

Given the restricted urban footprint, the design moves vertically rather than sprawling horizontally, marking a departure from traditional Catholic institutional buildings while maintaining a respectful dialogue with campus heritage.

Architectural Expression

While the oldest campus building dates back to 1910, the new structure avoids replicating the typical Greco-Roman style. Instead, it embraces the scale, structural rigor, and grandeur of classical architecture through modern interpretation.

Key features include:

• Repetitive window fenestrations creating a robust, ordered facade
• Semi-circular corbelled arches and wedge-shaped fenestrations transferring visual mass to the ground
• Aggregate plaster and stone-clad walls establishing a heritage-inspired yet contemporary aesthetic

Interior Layout & Spatial Planning

The ground and first floors house a 1000-seat multipurpose hall (MPH), dictating the upper-level layout. Classrooms are organized along a 25-foot-wide corridor, with staggered corridors on alternating floors for enhanced connectivity and interaction.

Design highlights include:

• Double-height cut-outs introducing natural light and ventilation
• Central spine fostering communal interactions
• Breakout spaces linking the building core to its surroundings

Structural Innovation

The column-free MPH spans 100’ in width and 150’ in length, acoustically optimized for cultural events and sports. Utilizing a Vierendeel system, vertical and diagonal members transfer loads to support the floors above, resulting in dramatic double-height spaces and tapering branching columns visible in upper-floor communal areas.

Design Philosophy

The building’s form-finished Vierendeel columns and heritage-inspired facade treatment convey strength and elegance. The design seeks to integrate seamlessly into Bengaluru’s historic campus while asserting a modern, timeless identity, reflecting both the legacy of St. Joseph’s College and the dynamic spirit of its students.

All Photographs are works of Vivek Eadara, Suryan // Dang