Osamu Ishiyama prepares a sketch of the university site on Friday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Rajgir, May 3: A team of architects that would judge the design and masterplan for the new Nalanda University visited the proposed site of the institution on Friday.

The team comprises academic Neelkanth Chhaya, Singapore-based Liu Thai Ker, Li Xiaodong from China and Osamu Ishiyama, an architect from Japan. Accompanying them was Lord Meghnad Desai, the economist and member of the Upper House of British Parliament, who is also a member of the governing board of Nalanda University.

Desai said: “The visit of the jury members before a final decision is taken on the master plan was essential.”

The jury members would assesses the flora and fauna, landscape and the climatic conditions of the site — a 446-acre plot around 90km southeast of Patna and around 10km from the ruins of the ancient Nalanda University.

The governing body of the new international institution, headed by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, would take the final decision in New Delhi on Monday, based on the feedback given by the architects. Chief minister Nitish Kumar would attend the meeting.

Desai said eight architecture firms/consortiums — CP Kukreja Associates; Hundred Hands, Allies and Morrison; Opolis Architects, Maki and Associates; Raj Rewal Associates, Dulal Mukherjee and Associates, Arun Rewal Associates; Sikka Associates Architects, Atkins China Ltd; Space Matters, Space Design Consultants and Snohetta Overseas SA; Vastu Shilpa Consultants; Virendra Khanna and Associates and IDOM Ingenieria Y Sonltoria, SA — had taken part in the competition for submitting the design and the master plan. The process began in December last year; on Monday, one of the firms would get the job.

The professional adviser of the university, A.R. Ramanthan, said the administration along with experts from the horticulture department have prepared a list of indigenous shrubs, herbs and trees so that they can be protected when the university is developed.