The Architectural Wing of PWD was formed in 1970 by bringing together the Architects, Junior Architects and Assistant Architects working in different Departments of Kerala Government as per G.O. (Ms) No.29/70/PW dated 07/02/1970. Architectural wing is headed by the Chief Architect, equal in status and administrative powers to the Chief Engineer, who is also the Ex- Officio Additional Secretary to Government. The Chief Architect has jurisdiction of the whole State as far as all Architectural Works are concerned.

State/Central laws governing the functioning of the Wing

The Architectural Wing is functioning as per the PWD Manual and the guidelines issued by the Council of Architecture.

ORGANISATIONAL SETUP

The Architectural wing is headed by the Chief Architect, in the grade and rank of the Chief Engineer of Public Works Department, and is assisted in all matters by a Deputy Chief Architect. The office organization will consist of Senior Architects, Deputy Architects, and Architectural Assistants for assisting in the preparation and approval of designs. There is sufficient complement of subordinate staff also in this wing. In respect of major buildings, this wing will be responsible for the scheme of landscaping, layout and preparation of building plans including architectural feature, interior fittings, decoration etc. and the Chief Engineers concerned will be responsible for the structural designs and for execution.

The Head Quarters

The Head Quarters of this wing is in Thiruvananthapuram. Its address, Phone/Fax is as follows:

THE CHIEF ARCHITECT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ARCHITECT
PWD, ARCHITECTURAL WING
PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDING, MUSEUM.P.O,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.-695 033
Website: www.keralapwd.gov.in
E-mail:- carch.pwd@kerala.gov.in, Phone/Fax: - 0471-2322498

Two Regional Offices have been set up at Ernakulam and Kozhikode vide G.O (Rt) No. 447/2020/PWD dated 14/05/2020 and certain posts of Senior Architect, Deputy Architect, Architectural Assistant, Architectural Draftsman Grade.I and II have been shifted from the Office of the Chief Architect to the newly formed Offices vide Order No. G.O.(Rt) No. 493/2020/PWD dated 02/06/2020.

FUNCTIONING OF ARCHITECTURAL WING

The Architectural wing of Public Works Department deals with the complete Architectural design process of all Government buildings, throughout the entire State of Kerala. The Architectural wing has 4 Senior Architects and 13 Deputy Architects including the regional Offices. Each Deputy Architect has been given the charge of one District exclusively Each Senior Architect deals with the works of 3 districts. To improve the functionality and aesthetics of buildings under PWD, all the designs forwarded from this wing is being scrutinized by an in-house Design Review Committee comprising the Chief Architect, Deputy Chief Architect and four Senior Architects. The development of architectural designs from the conceptual stage to the final design shall be in the purview of the Design Review Committee. One team under Technical Assistant in Architectural Wing shall be deputed to inspect the site after completion of the project to check whether the work is done according to the approved Architectural design and drawing and to prepare the Completion Plan for getting the Occupation Certificate. The design procedure includes various stages, which are mentioned in detail below:

(i) SITE INSPECTION:

Once the detailed requirement list and total station Survey report of the site is received in this office from the Client Department (through the concerned Divisional Offices), an officer in the cadre of Deputy Architect will inspect the site to check the feasibility of the project and have discussions with the concerned officials.

(ii)PREPARATION OF PRELIMINARY SKETCH DESIGN:

The next stage involved is the preparation of preliminary sketch design taking into consideration of various factors such as the topography of site, the character of neighboring buildings, the soil conditions, the building byelaws, orientation of the site, the access towards the site, and as per the given requirements. The preliminary Sketch design thus prepared is sent to the concerned Divisional office for getting approval from the concerned authorities (Client Department).

(iii) PREPARATION OF DETAILED WORKING DRAWINGS:

When the approved copy of preliminary sketch design is received in this office, a detailed working drawing, showing all probable details such as detailed plans with various levels and dimensions, material specifications, joinery and opening sizes, detailed sections, showing the height and levels of all floors, surface slabs, sections through staircases, front and side elevations etc is prepared in this office.

The prepared drawing is checked, verified and sent to Chief Engineer, Buildings, Public Works Department, The Chief Engineer, Design, Public Works Department, The concerned Division Office of Public Works Department and to the Superintending Engineer (Electrical). This is the normal procedure adopted for preparing an architectural design in this department.