Delhi NCR, Apr 21, 2025: A sprawling new center in Gurugram is offering architecture and design students something their classrooms often can’t—a chance to see, touch, and understand how buildings come together, not in theory, but in practice. The Knowledge Center, or KC as it’s called, spans over 100,000 square feet across two floors in Sector 71, Gurugram. At first glance, it could be mistaken for a showroom or a co-working hub. But KC is, in fact, a hands-on learning space—one that brings students, professionals, vendors, and materials under the same roof.
“Students walk in and learn not just how a product works—but how it feels, how it fails, and how it’s used on site,” says architect Ankur Jain, Founder and CEO of Knowledge Center. Jain, who has worked in architecture and construction for nearly two decades, says the idea for KC came from the gaps he saw in how new professionals were trained. “We don’t aim to replace colleges,” he says, “but we want to give learners what they often miss—real exposure.”
At the heart of the space is KC’s Sample and Catalogue Library and Resource Hub—a zone filled with live product samples, technical catalogues, design books (on design, literature, CPWD, by-laws and other related books & stationery zone) and physical materials that students and professionals can examine up close. The aim is to help students and young professionals get a real feel of the materials they’ll work with — something that’s often hard to do through textbooks or lectures. KC has meeting rooms, shared workspaces, a rendering zone, and a café for networking. It also hosts regular events, vendor visits, and informal sessions, making it a place where people can learn and connect with the industry and get hands-on exposure.
Membership is kept easy and affordable. Students can use the center for a nominal daily fee, while firms and independent practitioners can sign up with their teams. There are also special plans for women-led studios and working parents, with on-site childcare support and dedicated co-working zones. Jain says the model is designed to be inclusive, especially for students and young professionals who often don’t have access to vendor networks or project experience. “We’re creating a place where you don’t have to wait five years into your career to understand how this industry functions,” he says.
KC also considers how the industry is changing and how sustainability is a top priority for everyone. And thus, it cuts down on waste by reducing the need for printed catalogues. Instead, it offers everything in one place that multiple members can use and reuse. The space is also built to be accessible for everyone, with features like assistive signs and transport help for visitors who need support.
Importantly, KC doesn’t replace existing vendors or systems. It works alongside them—giving suppliers more visibility while making it easier for students and studios to find what they need.
Looking ahead, Jain says the plan is to scale. “We want to replicate this model across India,” he says. The rollout is phased — with one new center expected in the first year, followed by three more in year two, and steady growth from there.
With its official launch just around the corner, KC is already drawing attention from architecture institutions, universities, design firms, and material brands. For students finishing their degrees and looking to enter a fast-changing industry, it may offer a head start — not only through lectures, but also through lived, practical understanding.