As 2025 draws to a close, the landscape of Indian architecture stands at an important moment of transition. Public institutions are being reimagined, schools, hotels and universities are setting new standards in learning environments, and new districts are emerging as engines of growth. Across these transformations, CP Kukreja Architects continues to shape some of the most significant projects in the country. The year ahead will see several of these enter decisive phases. Together, they reflect the firm’s commitment to designing environments that are humane, future-ready and rooted in context. From the nation’s new Army Headquarters in Delhi to a vibrant public park in Dehradun, from an Elizabethan-inspired school in Haryana to a new IT hub for Kerala’s growing technology sector & Taj Hotel in Lucknow, 2026 promises to be a defining year. Below is a curated list of 7 key projects that will be important to watch in the coming year.
1. Thal Sena Bhawan, New Delhi
The upcoming headquarters of the Indian Army is one of the most consequential institutional developments in the country. The proposal translates the spirit of the Army into an architectural expression of unity, clarity and strength.
The design draws from the crossed swords and national emblem of the Army’s crest, abstracting it into a powerful geometric form. This gesture creates a structured, dignified presence within the Delhi Cantonment, while maintaining sensitivity to its natural surroundings and hundreds of existing trees on the site.
Connectivity, security and ease of internal movement shape the core planning idea. The building’s internal circulation is organised to minimise travel distances across departments, taking cues from global precedents such as the Pentagon and the Hexagone Balard. Landscaped courtyards are interwoven within the building’s footprint, creating a campus that feels calm and secure at the same time. In 2026, the project will move into further detailing and coordination, marking a significant step toward creating a new national landmark.
2. International Convention and Expo Centre for ONGC, Goa
The ONGC campus in Goa is one of the largest institutional projects currently underway. Designed as a comprehensive environment for training, conventions and public events, the campus includes three major components: A Convention Centre, an Exhibition Hall and a Management Training Facility.
The Convention Centre is planned as a high-capacity venue with a multi-tiered retractable stage, VVIP and VIP zones, large pre-function spaces and a variety of meeting rooms. The circulation strategy separates public, VIP and VVIP flows, with direct access from a helipad for high-level delegations.
The Exhibition Hall provides a flexible hall spanning nearly 120 metres, supported by efficient service and mezzanine levels. The Management Training Facility creates an academic setting with classrooms, syndicate rooms and collaborative spaces, all planned around clear circulation and outdoor linkages.
Across the campus, the architectural language draws from the colours and textures of Goa, creating a contemporary environment rooted in its coastal character. With major construction and coordination activities planned for 2026, the ONGC campus will become a significant national venue for knowledge exchange, capacity building and large-format events.
3. Queen Elizabeth School, Gurugram
Queen Elizabeth School reinterprets Elizabethan architectural traditions for a contemporary educational environment. The school, originally founded in the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, carries a historical lineage that the design respects while introducing newer architectural language for today’s learners.
The academic blocks express this heritage through red brick facades, stone detailing, gables, towers and articulated rooflines. These features bring back the proportions and visual rhythms of English Renaissance buildings. In contrast, the auditorium emerges as a sculpted, modern form inspired by the crown, giving the campus a fresh identity and a clear anchor point.
Spatially, the masterplan organises learning, sports and residential zones into a cohesive whole. Landscape, courtyards and pedestrian movement become important structuring elements, ensuring that even a large campus feels walkable and inviting. With façade development and final visualisation now in place, the project is set to advance into major construction milestones through 2026.
4. Technocity and Technopark IT Building (Technopark Phase IV), Thiruvananthapuram
Technocity, the fourth phase of Kerala’s Technopark development, is positioned to become one of India’s most important IT hubs. Spread across nearly 390 acres, the masterplan designed envisions a complete technology city that merges workplace infrastructure with open spaces, ecological corridors and social amenities.
The plan is structured around three linked districts. The Central District holds the public face of Technocity with mixed-use functions and activity nodes. The Eco District preserves water bodies, forests and natural features, turning them into part of the everyday experience of the campus. The IT Park District brings together high-density commercial and technology facilities.
Mobility planning focuses on pedestrian movement, non-motorised transport and a network of interactive streets. Elevated nature walks, link bridges and shaded pedestrian spines ensure accessibility across the campus. Sustainability guides every layer of the plan, from stormwater management to afforestation and energy performance.
Within this larger vision, the team is also designing the Technopark IT building, which will serve as a major anchor for Phase IV. Together, these will enter a deeper phase of detailing and development in 2026, setting the foundation for one of India’s most forward-looking technology districts.
5. American Embassy School, New Delhi
The American Embassy School (AES) in Chanakyapuri is undergoing a significant multi-stage transformation. The long-term plan reorganises the campus into a more flexible, future-ready environment while ensuring continuity with its evolving academic needs.
The sequence of development begins with a new Wellness Centre and a High School Annex, followed by the renovation of the existing high school, upgrades to the central administration block and the construction of a new cafeteria. Later phases include new workshops, plant facilities and infrastructure reorganisation across the campus.
The project is notable for its sensitive phasing strategy. At every step, learning spaces remain functional and safe for students. The circulation pattern, play areas, entry gates and service access are all recalibrated to support uninterrupted academic activity.
As the school moves into deeper implementation stages in 2026, the transformed AES campus will set a benchmark for international school planning in India.
6. Rashtrapati Udyan, Dehradun
The redevelopment of Rashtrapati Udyan is one of the most ambitious public landscape projects in Uttarakhand. Set against the foothills of the Himalayas, the design creates a park that celebrates ecology, culture and recreation.
The masterplan organises the site into distinct experience zones: The Sanskriti Udyan and Cultural Walk, the Bio-diversity Zone, the Udyan Lake, forested ecological areas and vibrant activity pockets including an amphitheatre, food court, maze garden, meditation pavilion, play courts and outdoor fitness spaces.
Elevated nature walks, cycling tracks and secondary pathways create a varied experience for visitors. The landscape strategy focuses on regeneration through Miyawaki forests, oxygen-producing plantations, thematic gardens and aviaries. The project aims to bring people closer to nature while strengthening Dehradun’s public space network.
In 2026, Rashtrapati Udyan will move into active development and will emerge as one of the most significant public parks in North India.
7. Taj Hotel, Lucknow
Taj Lucknow marks the expansion of one of the city’s most iconic hospitality landmarks at Vipin Khand. Adding 96 luxury keys across approximately 100,000 square feet, the design extends the legacy of the existing Taj hotel while responding to its prime setting overlooking the Ambedkar Memorial Park and Gomti Nagar riverfront. The architecture draws from the hotel’s established classical vocabulary, using symmetry, proportion and a refined façade language of arches, rectilinear windows and corniced parapets. A double-height arched colonnade defines the arrival experience, while guest rooms are oriented to landscaped courts and green edges. The spatial planning emphasises clarity, natural light and quiet luxury, creating an addition that is both contemporary and contextually anchored.
Looking Ahead
Across these diverse projects, a common thread is visible. CPKA continues to approach architecture as a way to shape institutions, cities and landscapes for the future while staying sensitive to culture, heritage and ecology. As these seven projects progress through 2026, they will add new references to India’s built environment and strengthen the architectural narrative of the country.
