BAIPV4NZECBAIPV4NZEC
The Team

Founding Team

BNR

Prof. B. N. Rao

Founder
Structural Division, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras
Technical & structural design advisor for the façade fixing-detail system
Education
  • PhD, Structures, Mechanics & Materials, University of Iowa, USA, 2002
  • M.E., Civil Engineering, MS University of Baroda, 1994
  • B.Tech, Civil Engineering, JNTU Hyderabad, 1992
Experience
  • Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras (2013–present)
  • Associate Professor, IIT Madras (2009–13); Assistant Professor, IIT Madras (2004–09)
  • Postdoctoral Research Scholar, University of Iowa, USA; Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
SBK

Ar. Suresh Babu Karuppannan

Founder & CEO
CoA Regn. CA/1995/18057 • AIIA • IGBC Member
Project Initiator & Steering Lead: Client interface, cross-disciplinary collaboration and strategic direction for BAIPV4NZEC
Education
  • PhD, Civil Engineering, IIT Madras — provisionally complete, Jun 2026 (“Wall-Mount BAIPV Panels for Nearly Net-Zero Energy Building Environment in Tropical Climatic Conditions”)
  • M.Arch (Industrial Design), School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi, 1996
  • B.Arch, Anna University, Chennai, 1994
Experience
  • Principal Architect, ICONS BDC, Chennai — architecture & design consultancy (current)
  • 25+ years across architecture practice, academia and design: Associate Professor roles at Hindustan University, Anna University, VIT Vellore, Sathyabama University
  • Research Scholar, Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras (2018–2026) — sustainable solar energy systems