SpaceMatters has completed and handed over its 16th CM Rise (now Sandipani Vidyalaya) School for the Government of Madhya Pradesh, concluding the first-phase pilot of the state’s school transformation programme. The milestone aligns with the practice’s 20-year journey, during which it has delivered 500 projects across education, healthcare, industrial townships, spiritual campuses and adaptive reuse.

Commissioned by the School Education Department and the Environmental Planning & Coordination Organisation (EPCO), the 16 schools across Bhopal, Ashok Nagar and Dhar span more than 2 million sq ft. The campuses have been designed to be contextual, climate-responsive and child-centric, delivered within tight budget and time constraints.

Ar. Moulshri Joshi, Founding Partner, SpaceMatters, said, “Every site presented its own challenges—and opportunities. Each school is uniquely adapted to its profile and contours, preserves existing trees, and maximises play, sports, and the ‘in-between’ spaces where children naturally gravitate. The real challenge was achieving all this within cost and time constraints. We believe learning happens everywhere, not only in the classroom.”

The new Sandipani Vidyalaya campuses incorporate universal access and inclusive design for children with diverse needs. Shaded outdoor classrooms, movement loops, breakout spaces and climate-responsive courtyards extend learning beyond the classroom, while design interventions draw from local community practices to support focus, well-being and social interaction.

Ar. Suditya Sinha, Founding Partner, SpaceMatters, added, “Our design approach prioritised optimal daylight, cross-ventilation, and thermal comfort in regions experiencing extreme heat, cold, monsoons, and rising air pollution. Corridors, courtyards, toilets, water points, and breakout zones were intentionally shaped as vibrant, safe, and inclusive spaces to ensure learning continues beyond the classroom.”

Designed for dual utility, the campuses can function as community hubs after school hours, supported by native planting, water-wise infrastructure and a simple, durable material palette. The project contributes to the Government of Madhya Pradesh’s broader Sandipani Vidyalaya initiative that aims to upgrade 9,000 schools with improved educational infrastructure and academic support systems.

Ar. Amritha Ballal, Founding Partner, noted, “Globally and in India, evidence continues to show that well-designed educational spaces significantly impact learning outcomes, student engagement, teacher motivation, and overall well-being. Yet, India’s public schools often suffer from infrastructural deficits that reinforce inequalities when compared with private institutions. In this context, SpaceMatters considers it a privilege to partner with the Government of Madhya Pradesh in its mission to radically transform public school environments and create equitable, uplifting spaces for every child.”

With expertise spanning architecture, interiors, urban design, mobility, heritage, experience design and ecological planning, SpaceMatters continues to advance an interdisciplinary approach across scales and sectors.