Dr. Ms. Ponni M. Concessao, Founder & Principal Architect 
Ponni & Oscar + Rahul Architects, Chennai Born into a family of professionals, Architect Ponni M.Concessao graduated from the illustrious Church Park Convent, Chennai.  A pioneer in women’s’ technical education, Ponni M Concessao was the first women undergraduate student of the prestigious National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli, University of Madras, graduating in June 1987. Architect Ponni M Concessao completed her post-graduate studies in Cornell University USA in 1989 with the JND Tata Endowment Scholarship and Scholarship from Cornell University.  She also won the College of Human Ecology Grant for Thesis Research in Cornell on her pioneering work on conservation.   Architect Ponni Concessao worked with Edward Larabbee Barnes Architect, New York City, USA, and with the National Trust of Historic Preservation, Washington D.C., USA. 

Architect Ponni did her Advanced Professional Studies at Harvard University, USA, and have been conferred with Honorary Doctorates from the University of Malaysia and University of Milano for Modern Architecture and Architectural Science.  Architect Ponni  returned to India and settled in Chennai, and started her architectural practice in  1996 along with her architect husband Oscar, designing versatile projects such as universities, engineering and medical colleges, stadiums at Doha, Qatar, Malaysia several Information technology Parks, Secretariats, bio-tech Parks, nano technology parks, townships, hospitals, apartments, hotels, resorts, malls, corporate offices, luxury bungalows, factories, SEZ, several Government and State buildings with completed projects footprints in over 100 locations all over India and Malaysia.

Architect Ponni has won more than 158 International, National and State Awards for Architecture & Interiors. To highlight a few, in 2004, Ponni Architect won an award for ‘Excellence in Built Environment, awarded by the His Excellency, the former President of India Dr. A.P. J Abdul Kalam for the Satyam Technology Information Technology Park at Bhubaneswar, Orissa. In the year 2008 she won the prestigious Indian Institute of Architects, IIA National Award 2008 for the Sastra Biotech Park for Sastra University at Tanjore. Architect Ponni has won the Indian Buildings Congress Award 20 times for her information technology parks, campuses and townships which are unprecedented in India.   

In 2014, Architect Ponni Concessao, won the Distinguished Alumni Award for the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli from His Excellency, the former President of India Dr. A.P. J Abdul Kalam. Architect Ponni M. Concessao won the Indian Buildings Congress Satya Goel Memorial National Award for the “Eminent Women Building Professional from India”, 2014 and won the Icon of Asia Women Awards at Singapore amongst 11 Asian Nations. In 2020 Architect Ms. Ponni won 8 International and National Women’s Achiever Awards for Architecture. 

In July 2020 the Honorable Chief Minister of Telangana Shri K.C. Rao awarded the Telangana State New Secretariat Building project through a National Design Competition. Architect Ponni has recently completed the Dr Karunanidhi Museum & Convention centre at Tiruvarur near Thanjavur and is also completing the design of the Gaganyaan Space Centre facility at Sriharikota for ISRO.  Architect Ponni has recently won four Estrade awards in Singapore in January 2021 for  Architecture & Interiors projects in Malaysia and Havelock Islands. 

To Architect  Ponni Concessao  an architect s role is nation building and one must have a strong sense of contributing to society to all levels   especially the poor.   Her work includes the School for children of leprosy victims in Tamil Nadu for the Rising Star Outreach an NGO. Architect Ponni is involved in Social Service projects for past 30 years in National and International organization in the field of Women s Empowerment, Leprosy eradication, built noon meal centers and toilets for under privileged girl students, Tsunami Housing, and raised funds by organizing her paintings exhibitions at ART Houz Chennai, and raised funds for Rotary, Round Table and Ladies circle India and Rising star outreach of India by conducting Ponni’s Painting exhibitions and the proceeds for these causes, specially Leprosy eradication. 

She has been a key note speaker for the past 30 years in International and national conferences, been on Governing Councils in universities, Academic Advisor and involved in Architectural education in India. Both Architects Architect Ponni is involved in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana project and also built noon meal centers, Tsunami Housing, toilets for underprivileged girl students as well as schools for leprosy afflicted patients children. One must be an educational engine to all who seek their services, as architects, especially women architects are agents of change and be a mirror of social conscience.

What makes Architect Ponni M. Concessao succeed as a professional and person?

Architect Ponni is an ardent believer in the power of conviction at all stages of life.  As a very young  student in Church Park Convent she drew up a master plan in her mind to arm herself with a professional degree, travel globally, return back to India and build the nation.  Architecture provided her with that opportunity to literally build for the nation in all parts of the country with different proto types.  This was an excellent opportunity to mingle with men and women from all strata and different parts of the country.  This propelled her need to educate and enlighten women in all parts of the country to defy social conditioning of women, arm themselves with an education and conquer the workspace.

Ponni believes in the empowering of women by the guiding of weaker sections of society by empowered women.  Fifty one percent of  the population of the India are women and this should reflect in the Indian workspace too which is not the case.  It is her belief that more women in the workforce will increase the GDP of a nation. Case and point is the example of western nations and countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore and China. 

Ponni also believes that the social conditioning of women to be home makers rather than professionals is contrary to progress of the country.  Women in her experience make the best of workers in terms of sincerity, discipline and dedication to work.  Governments need to recognize the importance of women in the work force and encourage and empower women.  Safety and security of women are still an issue in our country but that is also changing.

It is important to realize that Asia is still a traditional society and therefore the burden of running a household and working is still a challenge and that can be offset by conditioning men to share the burden as it is in western countries.  India is a fountainhead of amazing human resources and intelligent governance and the goal of making India a safe, secular and be a global super power is possible. Ours is democracy like the USA and similar means of ensuring women's empowerment will bring our economies on the same level.  

Ponni credits her parents, husband and son for her success and this is important to any woman who needs to succeed in all levels of society, especially in the  lower middle class sections and in rural India.  Having a vision for oneself early in life, working hard and consistent in achievement of goal with discipline, dedication and devotion is her mantra for success.  Turning a disadvantage into an advantage, saying no to social conditioning and male chauvinism / misogyny is necessary to achieve goals for women.

Participating in governance, profession and social service should be the mantra of every ambitious girl child and it is possible in this day and age.  Being economically independent should be the mantra of every girl child.  Being Indian by respecting progressive traditions and adapting independence of thinking, financially and socially is great way to live well and contribute to society positively. Women in positions of power especially in decision making position of government, industry and social organizations will ensure strong legislation, laws and decrees to ensure safety and security for women.

God, country, family and work has always been strong commitments / priorities for Architect Ponni.  Her passions other than work and family has been painting, classical music, reading, trekking and travelling.  She feels that women are natural nation builders by virtue of spearheading family and professional life.  Women are the real game changers in life and profession.  Women's rights and empowerment should be the backbone of government legislation.  Women must  vote for politicians who deliver on their promises of encouraging women's interests.  Women in technical professions will make a mark and therefore their participation in technical education is a must for gender equity.  

It is Ponni's dream that every woman in India is empowered socially and financially. It her dream to see India as a country of gender equity both in urban and rural areas. It is her dream to see Indian women excel in the local, national and international scene in all spheres of human enterprise.  Gender equity is not a far dream but an achievable one only if women apply their minds, demand their rights and act upon it.  Never walk behind or in front of a man but walk beside him - earn your power through knowledge and education to live a constructive life with God and country in mind-Architect Ponni Mukundan Concessao