Introduction: For over two decades, ARCHITECT GURPREET S. SHAH, Principal Architect & Urban Designer at Creative Group LLP, has been at the forefront of redefining India’s civic and infrastructure landscape. From airports and metro stations to university campuses and ropeways, his work fuses iconic design with engineering pragmatism and social purpose. In this wide-ranging conversation with SSMB, Ar. Gurpreet S. Shah discusses the evolving role of steel in public architecture, how BIM and parametric design are transforming delivery models, and why the next generation of architects must think beyond form to lead the charge in building a resilient, responsive India.
EARLY INFLUENCES AND ARCHITECTURAL PHILOSOPHY
You have led Creative Group’s large-scale infrastructure and institutional work for over two decades. What early experiences or influences shaped your architectural philosophy and drive at Creative Group?
From my formative years at Sushant School of Architecture and then Columbia University’s urban design program, I was captivated by the intersection of form, function, and human well-being. Working under Ar. Fred Schwartz in New York instilled in me the power of designing spaces that not only perform but also inspire. When I returned to India, I saw vast opportunities to redefine civic architecture, spaces where technology, sustainability, and local context coalesce. That early melding of global best practices with India’s unique climatic and cultural challenges drives my commitment at Creative Group: to design infrastructure that elevates user experience, promotes social equity, and endures across generations.
DESIGNING FOR PEOPLE AND PLACE
How do you define your design approach when conceiving public buildings airports, metro stations, university campuses and what guiding principles ensure they serve both people and place?
At Creative Group, we start every project by listening, understanding how people move, interact, and feel within a space. Our guiding principles revolve around four pillars: contextual responsiveness, human-centric circulation, structural clarity, and sustainable performance. For instance, at Chennai International Airport, we embedded a green spine through the terminal to modulate indoor temperatures and create a serene arrival experience. Similarly, when designing university campuses like IIT Jodhpur, we orient academic blocks and communal courtyards to optimise daylight and natural ventilation. By balancing efficient passenger or student flows with iconic rooflines and transparent façades, we ensure each building is both highly functional and unmistakably rooted in its place.
“Steel isn’t just a structural material—it’s a medium of expression and adaptability.”
CRAFTING FUTURE-READY INFRASTRUCTURE
How do you perceive steel’s role in crafting future-ready infrastructure, particularly transportation hubs that demand flexibility, speed of erection, and longevity?
Steel’s inherent strength-to-weight ratio and prefabrication advantages make it indispensable for next-generation infrastructure. Transportation hubs like airports or metro stations demand large column-free spaces, rapid construction timelines, and adaptability to evolving operational needs, and steel delivers on all fronts. Prefabricated steel trusses and girders can be manufactured offsite to very tight tolerances, accelerating erection schedules and ensuring quality. Its ductility also imparts seismic resilience, critical in many Indian metros. Moreover, steel structures can be disassembled, expanded, or reconfigured far more easily than monolithic concrete frames, allowing nodes like terminals or stations to grow incrementally as demand rises. For future-proofing, steel also integrates seamlessly with advanced cladding systems, solar panels, and green-roof assemblies, supporting net-zero objectives.
GAME-CHANGING STEEL PROJECTS
Can you share a couple of Creative Group projects where innovative use of steel changed the game by enabling column-free spaces, reducing construction timelines, or achieving sculptural forms that would be difficult in concrete?
Certainly. At Gwalior Airport’s new terminal designed by Creative Group we employed a network of prefabricated steel mega-trusses that span over 40 m without intermediate columns. This not only created an expansive, uninterrupted concourse but also allowed us to optimise passenger flow and wayfinding. The steel roof’s undulating geometry, visible both inside and from the air, became an architectural signature. By fabricating these trusses in modular segments, we reduced onsite labour and compressed the construction schedule by nearly 20 per cent.
Another example is the airport terminal at Agartala. There, we used curved steel box girders for the arrival hall roof, tapering in thickness to create a lightweight, canopy-like effect that hovers over the tarmac. Because we could shop-fabricate these girders, we minimised welding and painting onsite which was crucial given the monsoon constraints. The result was a terminal that cost 15 per cent less in structural materials compared to a comparable RCC frame and was delivered two months ahead of schedule.
ENGINEERING FOR EXPRESSION
When designing large-span steel structures, how do you strike the right balance between expressive, iconic form and the strict engineering requirements?
Balancing form and performance starts in the conceptual phase. We collaborate closely with structural engineers from day one, often under a single umbrella, so that our sketches are grounded in real-world load analyses. For example, when designing the sculptural roof at Chennai Airport, our initial free-hand curves were tested immediately in parametric models to verify stress distribution, deflection, and constructability. Where a design demanded a sweeping cantilever or a double-curved roof, we explored hybrid steel-composite sections or secondary bracing systems to meet deflection limits without compromising aesthetic fluidity. Iteration is key: if an elegant curve induces excessive bending stresses, we either adjust its radius or introduce discreet stiffeners. The goal is never to let engineering constraints dilute our architectural intent, but rather to let them inform a more refined, performance-driven expression.
CHALLENGES IN CIVIC PROJECTS
Many of your signature works are civic in nature, each with complex programmatic requirements. What unique structural or site-specific challenges arise in these contexts, and how does your team navigate them?
Civic projects inherently carry multiple stakeholders like regulators, airlines, transit authorities, universities, and local communities, each with distinct functional and regulatory demands. At metro stations, for instance, we must seamlessly integrate structural provisions for future line expansions, retail kiosks, signage, and MEP tunnels, all within a constrained footprint. Site-specific issues vary: the Varanasi Urban Ropeway required us to anchor steel towers on brittle alluvial soil near the Ganges, demanding deep raft foundations and geotechnical instrumentation. At the Dera Baba Nanak Kartarpur corridor, cross-border security protocols required us to incorporate blast-resistant steel partitions and anti-ram bollards without making the terminal feel fortress-like. We navigate these by embedding multidisciplinary teams like civil, structural, geotechnical, and security consultants into our process from inception, ensuring that design, engineering, and operational issues are resolved in parallel rather than sequentially.
BIM AND PARAMETRIC DESIGN
How has Creative Group incorporated advanced construction technologies, BIM workflows, parametric modeling, or digital fabrication into the design and delivery of steel-intensive infrastructure?
Digital technology underpins virtually every steel project at Creative Group today. We employ BIM (Revit + Dynamo) to create federated 3D models that coordinate architecture, structure, MEP, and façade systems. Parametric modeling tools like Rhino + Grasshopper allow us to explore complex roof geometries interactively, instantly calculating panelization patterns and optimising member sizes. For Gwalior Airport, our steel consultant used a common BIM model to generate CNC files for every truss segment, ensuring perfect fitment onsite. We also leveraged digital 4D sequencing (time-based BIM) to simulate crane movements and steel erection sequences at Agartala, predicting clashes before they occurred. By integrating real-time laser scanning and QR-coded tagging, we track each steel member’s location and status on site, reducing rework and safety risks. In short, digital workflows have reduced our steel fabrication-to-erection cycle times by over 25 per cent.
“Digital tools like BIM and parametric modelling don’t just improve efficiency, they democratise design.”
AMBITIOUS CONCEPTS, REAL-WORLD CONSTRAINTS
Please discuss a project where you had to reconcile an ambitious architectural concept with site constraints or tight budgetary limits. How did you pivot the design while preserving core design intent?
A notable case was the Libreville Airport in Gabon, an international assignment for Creative Group. Our client wanted a grand, wave-like roof, symbolising ripples of the nearby estuary, but site logistics posed challenges: a narrow site footprint, heavy seasonal rains, and a limited budget. Our original steel-shell concept proved too expensive. To pivot, we reinterpreted the wave as a folded plate steel roof composed of standard sections. By switching from a double-curved geometry to a series of planar facets, we saved 30 per cent in steel fabrication costs and simplified on-site welding. We preserved visual drama by painting alternate facets in contrasting colors and incorporating skylight ribbons along the “wave crest.” Simultaneously, we tightened drainage details to cope with Gabon’s torrential rains. The final terminal retained its iconic gesture but was engineered to be affordable, buildable, and climate resilient.
Did You Know?
Libreville Airport, Gabon, designed by Creative Group, saved 30 per cent in steel costs by shifting from curved to folded plate geometry without compromising aesthetics.
BUILDING FOR THE LONG TERM
In large-scale steel projects, what strategies do you employ to integrate sustainability so that the building remains climate-responsive over decades?
Sustainability at Creative Group begins with material selection and extends through the building’s operational life. For steel projects, we prioritise the use of high-recycled content structural sections and specify local mills to reduce transportation emissions. In our design for the Vadodara Airport terminal, we collaborated with a steel fabricator to source TMT rebars made from 90 per cent recycled scrap, cutting embodied carbon by 25 per cent. We also incorporate lifecycle analysis (LCA) in early design reviews, comparing steel frame scenarios against RCC or hybrid systems to quantify trade-offs in carbon, cost, and maintenance. For climate responsiveness, our airport concourses at Agartala and Gwalior use tall, operable louvered walls that enable stack ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling. We integrate rainwater harvesting tanks sized for monsoon runoff; in Chennai, those tanks globally supply 30 per cent of non-potable water needs. By embedding photovoltaic arrays on steel canopies above parking aprons, we offset at least 20 per cent of a terminal’s energy consumption. Collectively, these strategies ensure our buildings adapt and even improve in performance as technologies advance.
STEEL’S ROLE IN ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE
Do you believe steel inherently lends itself to creating “timeless” civic landmarks? In what ways can steel-framed structures adapt to evolving user needs or future expansions without requiring a complete overhaul?
Absolutely. Steel’s modularity and ease of connection make it uniquely suited for flexible, longevity-driven architecture. A well-designed steel framework can be reconfigured decades later: additional trusses can be inserted, mezzanine floors can be added, or roof extensions can span outwards without demolishing the original shell. For instance, at the Varanasi Ropeway terminals, we sized the steel columns and foundations to accommodate a future second-level arrival hall, anticipating city growth. That foresight allows us to add 3,000 sq m of waiting lounges without disrupting ground-level operations. Steel also permits creative adaptive reuse: an old hangar can become an exhibition hall by replacing a few bays or recladding walls, something far more cumbersome with concrete. In that sense, steel-framed civic buildings carry a kind of architectural “grace” that can evolve with the community’s needs, ensuring both functional relevance and aesthetic longevity.
“Public buildings belong to communities. They must reflect cultural identity, not just engineering ambition.”
STEEL AND VERNACULAR IDENTITY
For public works, how important is it that the architecture reflects regional culture or vernacular identity? Can steel architectural elements like perforated façades or stylized rooflines help tell that local story, or do they sometimes present limits?
Reflecting local culture is vital, public buildings belong to their communities and should resonate with regional character. Steel, when used thoughtfully, can be an expressive medium: in the Chennai Airport terminal, our perforated metal louvers take inspiration from traditional Madras latticework (jaali), filtering sunlight in patterns reminiscent of local craftsmanship. Conversely, steel’s industrial connotations can seem at odds with vernacular warmth if applied indiscriminately as cold, featureless panels. The key is to combine steel with indigenous materials like clay tiles, local stone, terracotta screens so that technological boldness does not overshadow cultural context. In Rajasthan, for a proposed university campus, we envision steel trusses clad with perforated copper panels etched with local block-print motifs, achieving a dialogue between modern engineering and centuries-old artistry. Steel’s adaptability allows for such integration; it is a matter of design intention rather than material limitation.
INDIA’S EVOLVING INFRASTRUCTURE LANDSCAPE
With India investing heavily in airports, metro systems, and institutional campuses, how can design thinking and material innovation shape the infrastructure landscape over the next decade?
Design thinking must pivot from “build-and-complete” to “build-and-evolve.” Beyond steel, composite materials carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) and glass-fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC) will allow lighter, more sculptural forms while reducing maintenance. Precast concrete modules combined with steel node connections can accelerate schedules and ensure uniform quality, especially in remote locations. In mass transit, hybrid solutions steel frames with precast façade panels and insulated sandwich walls will deliver energy-efficient stations that are erected in weeks, not months. Equally, digital twins and IoT sensors embedded during construction will enable predictive maintenance, ensuring that infrastructure moves from “asset” to “living system.” At Creative Group, we are already piloting nano-coatings on steel to mitigate corrosion in coastal airports and experimenting with mycelium-based bio-insulation for future campus dormitories. Over the next decade, India’s infrastructure will be defined by such synergies: design that is human-centric, materials that are high-performance yet low-impact, and construction methods that are agile enough to adapt as cities grow.
“Design must evolve from ‘build-and-complete’ to ‘build-and-evolve.’ That’s the future of Indian infrastructure.”
EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION
Given the growing emphasis on steel-intensive, performance-driven infrastructure, how do you see architectural education evolving in India?
Architectural education must become hyper-interdisciplinary. Tomorrow’s architects need fluency in structural engineering fundamentals understanding moment connections, lateral bracing schemes, and dynamic load analyses. Digital literacy is non-negotiable: parametric modeling, generative design, and BIM collaboration platforms should be core components of the curriculum. Simultaneously, a grounding in sustainability science life cycle assessment, embodied carbon calculators, passive climate strategies will ensure graduates design responsibly from day one. I also urge schools to embed industry internships earlier: students should join steel fabricators, façade consultants, and site contractors to witness real-world constraints and innovations. Soft skills team communication, client negotiation, design thinking workshops will round out their readiness. In essence, architectural education must shift from an aesthetic-only focus to a truly systems-oriented pedagogy, equipping students to lead the next wave of performance-driven, steel-rich infrastructure that India so urgently needs.
