The MARC Auditorium & Food Court brings together two major functional zones within a single, unified structural system: a two-level food court below and a 1,200-seat circular auditorium above. Located at the heart of Manipal Academy of Higher Education’s 80-acre Bengaluru campus, the building was designed by The Purple Ink Studio and spans approximately 123,000 sq. ft., accommodating large student footfall in its open public zones and indoor gathering areas.

TRC Worldwide Engineering (India) collaborated closely with the architectural team to develop a reinforced concrete beam-and-slab system that supports the half-sunken food court at the base and forms a robust foundation for the upper levels. Above, a steel-truss system spans the ~52-meter-diameter auditorium. The roof is topped by a composite system.

The architectural layout features multiple layers that converge around the central auditorium, creating a strong spatial and visual identity. Concentric rings of orange wrap the building’s circular form, providing a vivid contrast to the exposed structural frame. Diverging pedestrian ramps weave around the auditorium and connect to the outdoor plaza, allowing fluid pedestrian movement between levels. Opened in 2024, the facility now serves as a key anchor for MAHE Bengaluru’s social and cultural life.

Key Structural Components:
• RC beam-and-slab structure at food court level
• Steel-truss roof for the auditorium
• Seamless transition ramps and half-sunken floor levels

​Image Credit: Suryan/Dang​