HISTORY
The School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, one of the premier institution of the nation was initially established as a Department of Architecture of the University of Madras in the year 1957 and was located in the Alagappa college of Technology, offering five year Bachelor Degree Course in Architecture with 20 seats intake. The department was later renamed as the The School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, and shifted to this independent campus of our own in the year 1968. The status of the School was further augmented as one of the constituent college during the formation of the Anna University in 1979. At present, the School has been made one of four constituent autonomous institution of Anna University in 2002, with self-directed purpose to achieve its goal and aspirations to universal standards. The recently the School has formulated Department of Architecture headed by the Dean Prof. P.Swaminathan.

The School lengthened its aspiration to serve the society at large by establishing higher degree courses in Architecture namely M.Arch in 1986 and presently the specialized courses namely - M.Arch(digital), M.Arch(Landscape) as self supporting courses from 2002, with an intake of 20 students, is now expanded to the current intake of 40 from the early 90's. In this academic year the total students on role is 227 with 178 students in the under-graduate programme and 34 students in the M.Arch programmes.

The undergraduate course is on five-year duration with the uniqueness of the course content on a semester devoted to practical training under skilled guidance of practicing architect and another semester on design thesis on exploring the individual student's area of interest. The postgraduate course in Digital and Landscape architecture of two-year duration has been structured with the deliberations towards respond to the global change, societal and professional needs.

The QIP Cell was established by the AICTE at SAP has provided the facilities of research for teachers of other schools besides providing admission to PG degree course. Till date 16 teachers from various schools of Architecture had benefited by the Cell. The recently launched NSS Unit - SAP at the School have extended its support to the social cause with the first year B.Arch students actively involved.

The well-planned campus of the school provided ample space for administration, lecture halls and studios for both Architecture and Planning courses, seminar rooms, staff rooms, library, multi-purpose hall and student's common room(including separate ladies common room) and a hobby workshop. In this academic year, the school has advanced in Computer and Networking facilities with an exclusive Computer Lab for UG and PG students and independent Computer Design Studio for the M.Arch(Digital). The Computer Design Studio consist of 40 nos. P III and P IV branded machines with high-end multimedia software's compatibility, and LCD projectors. The departmental library functions effectively with financial assistance from the University, Government of Tamil Nadu and the UGC, and the total collection of publications now exceeds 17,000.

The School strength lies in the facilitation of interactive learning through design projects, student seminar and lectures. The wealth of data collected as part of the design and thesis has been well appreciated by the professionals. The School an foremost institution in India serving as an institutional model in Architecture and Planning where other schools in this region look upon our curricular and pedagogies for guidance.