DEAN ACADEMIC'S

Leading Academic Excellence at School of Planning and Architecture Vijayawada

About the Dean

Dr. Venkata Krishna Kumar Sadhu is a Professor of Architecture at the School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada — an Institute of National Importance under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. He currently serves as the Dean of Academics, bringing to this role more than 27 years of combined teaching and professional experience across architecture, housing planning, and real estate consultancy.

An Architect–Housing Planner by training, Dr. Sadhu holds a Ph.D. in Architecture (2023) from SPA Vijayawada, a Master of Planning (Housing) from SPA New Delhi, and a Bachelor of Architecture from SPA, JNTU Hyderabad. His doctoral research focused on the social acceptance of vernacular houses in Ghantasala, Andhra Pradesh.

His academic expertise spans Vernacular Architecture, Housing Rehabilitation, Real Estate Dynamics, and Settlement Planning. He has guided approximately 60 thesis and 20 dissertation projects at SPA Vijayawada, and has been actively involved in curriculum design for both B.Arch and Master of Urban Design programmes. He has published 5 patents and over 30 research papers in national and international journals and conference proceedings.

Prior to his academic career, Dr. Sadhu served as Assistant Vice President – Strategic Consulting at Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants, Hyderabad, where he led assignments in real estate valuation, demand assessment, financial feasibility studies, and PPP project advisory. He also has international academic experience, having served as an Instructor at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Unity University College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Academic Qualifications

Ph.D. in Architecture — 2023

School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada

Social Acceptance of Vernacular Houses – The case of Ghantasala, A.P., India

Master of Planning (Housing) — 1996–98

School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi | First Class

Illegal Land Subdivision for Housing – The case of Vijayawada, A.P., India

Bachelor of Architecture — 1990–95

SPA, JNTU Hyderabad | First Class

Vernacular Housing for Quake-prone areas – Talni Tanda, Latur Dt., Maharashtra

Professional Experience

Professor, Dept. of Architecture — SPA Vijayawada

Feb 2026 – Present

Dean of Academics — SPA Vijayawada

Current Charge

Associate Professor, Dept. of Architecture — SPA Vijayawada

Dec 2009 – Feb 2026

Also served as Dean Student Affairs (Feb 2023–Jul 2025), CPIO, Head of Dept. (2016–18), Registrar & DDO (additional charge 2010–12)

Asst. Vice President – Strategic Consulting

Jones Lang LaSalle Property Consultants (India) Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad

Jan 2008 – Dec 2009

Instructor — School of Architecture & Urban Planning

Unity University College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Jul 2004 – Jun 2006

Lecturer / Asst. Professor — Dept. of Architecture

Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur, Karnataka

Apr 1998 – Aug 2007 (with Ethiopia stint)

Areas of Research Interest

Vernacular Architecture Housing Rehabilitation Settlement Consolidation Land Subdivision Real Estate Dynamics Spirituality & Contemplative Yogic Practices

Professional Memberships

Council of Architecture — CA/96/19473

Assoc. Member, Indian Institute of Architects — A17550

Assoc. Member, Institute of Town Planners, India — AITP 2012/063

Life Member, Indian Society of Ergonomics — L 0379

Member, PLPR (Planning, Law & Property Rights)

Patents Published 5

Computer-Implemented Method for Automated Assessment and Classification of Vernacular Architectural Features Using Image Processing and PCA

App. No. 202641024528 | Filed: 02/03/2026 | Published

System and Method for Digital Transformation Mapping of Vernacular Houses Using Multi-Parameter Feature Extraction and Temporal Analysis

App. No. 202641024531 | Filed: 02/03/2026 | Published

Computer-Implemented System for Determining Social Acceptance of Architectural Heritage Using Integrated Socio-Statistical Computation

App. No. 202641024533 | Filed: 02/03/2026 | Published

Computer-Implemented Method for Generating Vernacular Housing Design Recommendations Based on Socio-Economic Correlation Data

App. No. 202641024684 | Filed: 02/03/2026 | Published

System and Method for Automated Evaluation of Vernacular Housing Using Computational Feature Analysis and Scoring Algorithms

App. No. 202641024922 | Filed: 03/03/2026 | Published

Selected Publications

Entropy in Housing Neighbourhood

Journal of the Indian Institute of Architects, Vol. 91, 2026, pp. 48–55 (ISSN: 0019-4913)

Spiritual anatomy and vernacular spatial autonomy – the case of Ghantasala village, A.P.

Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, Vol. 24, 2025, pp. 457–464. DOI: 10.56042/ijtk.v24i5.9042

3D Printing in Architecture: Mechanisms, Materials, and Emerging Impact on Construction

Asian Journal of Engineering and Applied Technology, Vol. 14, No. 1, 2025, pp. 39–43

People's Acceptance of Vernacular Houses – The case of Ghantasala, Andhra Pradesh, India

International Society for the Study of Vernacular Settlements, Vol. 7, 2020, pp. 32–46

Urban Economies: Housing for Growth, Recovery and Resilience

NCHF Bulletin Special Issue, Vol. XXXVI, 2023, pp. 37–40

31 publications total across journals, book chapters & conference proceedings

Duties and Responsibilities of Deans

He or she will advice the Director in the following:

Admission and enrolment of students;

Finalization of academic calendar, time-tables, registration of students for course work and examinations, class room arrangements and all other requirements for proper conduct of class work;

Conduct of class tests and co-coordinating the finalization of session's evaluations and for ensuring the timely declaration of results;

Supervision of the maintenance of up-to-date academic records of all categories of students;

Publication and distribution of the syllabi;

Organizing meeting of all the School level academic bodies;

Arranging the issue of all academic certificates, medals and prizes to the students;

To arrange for conduct of examinations which are to be conducted by the school as stipulated in the school regulations.

To execute the policy of the Senate in the conduct of Post Graduate, Ph.D. and other research programmes including the examination of the thesis.

To co-ordinate for the conduct of convocation.

All proposals to modify the teaching programmes will be considered first by all the Deans of the School, and if approved will be sent to the Senate for formal approval.

To admit sponsored Early Faculty Induction Programme and Quality Improvement Programme candidates.

To take suitable steps from time to time to strive for the high academic standards.