This document summarizes the design of the Karnavati Sports Club building in Ahmedabad, India, which won an international design competition in 1989. The building was designed to include indoor sports facilities, auditorium, offices, guest suites, shops, pools, gymnasium, and banquet halls across 3 acres. The design was inspired by the Mughal palace complex at Fatehpur Sikri, using courtyards, axes, and transitional spaces to organize the program and relate to the landscape. Renderings and plans show the final proposed design incorporated these concepts through a series of courtyards, porticos, and axes to structure the movement between facilities.

1. KARNAVATI SPORTS CLUB
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION
EXHIBITION AWARD WINNER
1989
COPYRIGHT: AYUB H. PATEL, PRINCIPAL – NAVLEEKA ARCHITECTS

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KARNAVATI SPORTS AND RECREATION CLUB
THALTEJ ROAD, AHMEDABAD
EVERY INVENTION IS AT FIRST A DISCOVERY. ANYTHING NEW HAS
ALWAYS EXISTED, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN. WHEN THE MIND IS
INSPIRED BY THE RIGHT SOURCE, FRESH IDEAS ARE BORN. MAN
BUILDS WHAT NATURE SUGGESTS BUT DOES NOT PROVIDE.
Ayub H. Patel, Navleeka Architects

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THE PROGRAM
THE BRIEF COMMISIONED A 5000 SQ. M (55,000 SQ. FT)
BUILDING ON A 3 ACRE SITE TO INCLUDE INDOOR SPORTS
COURTS WITH SPECTATOR GALLERIES, AUDITORIUM,
ADMIN OFFICES, BOARD ROOM, LIBRARY, GUEST SUITES,
SHOPPING ARCADE, CAFES, A BAR, POOLS, GYMNASIUM,
SPA, MASSAGE ROOMS, AMPHITHEATER, AND BANQUET
HALLS ALONG WITH KITCHENS, SERVERY, STORAGE
FACILITIES AND ANCILLIARY FUNCTIONS SUCH AS
POOLSIDE BATHOUSES, CHANGING ROOMS ETC. A LAKE
WAS REQUIRED TO BE DREDGED OUT OF THE SITE FOR
WATER SPORTS, THE MAIN THEME. OUTDOOR
RECREATION AREAS WERE ALSO REQUIRED. PARKING
WAS TO BE INTEGRATED WITH LANDSCAPING IN THE
FRONT OF THE SITE.

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IMAGES OF AHMEDABAD

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FATEHPUR SIKRI
ANCIENT MOGHUL RETREAT INSPIRES NEW IDEAS

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CONCEPT
CHARACTER SKETCH
AT NAVLEEKA, WE OFTEN BEGIN WITH THE SECTION BECAUSE IT DEPICTS HOW THE BUILDING
RELATES TO THE LANDSCAPE, THE EARTH AND THE SKY. THE BUILDING’S SILHOUETTE IS AS
IMPORTANT AS IT’S ENVELOPE. WHILE THE PLAN DEFINES VISUAL AND FUNCTIONAL
RELATIONSHIPS ON THE HORIZONTAL PLANE, THE SECTION EMBODIES VERTICAL MOVEMENTS,
PROVIDES CUES FOR CHANGES OF LEVEL WHERE DESIRED OR ESSENTIAL, AND ENGAGES THE
TOPOGRAPHY IN A DIALOGUE WITH BUILT FORM. THE SPORTS CLUB DESIGN, BEING A RETREAT
AND RECLUSE FROM THE URBAN CORE, AT ONCE RECOGNIZES THIS NOTION AND DEMANDS IT’S
EMPLOYMENT AS A CONCEPTUAL THEME ON THIS OTHERWISE GENTLY SLOPING SUBURBAN SITE.

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SITE PLAN VIEW OF PROPOSED CLUB
N

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AXIS AS ORGANIZER – LESSONS FROM SIKRI

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COURTYARD SPACES – LESSONS FROM SIKRI

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PHOTO KEY – SELECTED VISTAS

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GESTALT – COMPOSITE OF PLAN WITH SIKRI

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CONCEPT – AXES, ASSYMETRICAL SHIFTS, AND THE
RITUALS OF MOVEMENT
PROPOSEDPROJECT
FATEHPUR SIKRI - 1572

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CONCEPT – FORMAL STRUCTURE OF COURTYARDS
FATEHPUR SIKRI 1572
PROPOSED PROJECT
2
1
3
1
2
3
THOUGH THE SCALES OF THE TWO PROJECTS DIFFER
CONSIDERABLY, MOVEMENT IN THE CLUSTER OF
COURTYARDS THAT HELP ORGANIZE THE SPATIAL
AND FORMAL STRUCTURE OF THE WHOLE, IS
ATTEMPTED TO BE KEPT QUITE SIMILAR. THERE IS
ONLY ONE MAIN AXIS AND A LOT OF SUBORDINATE
ONES. THE SHIFT IN AXES HELPS REORDER
MOVEMENT THROUGH THE COURTYARDS FLANKED
BY SEMI-ENCLOSED CIRCULATION SPACES.
VISTAS AND STATION POINTS FOR
VIEW CHANGE AS ONE MOVES
THROUGH THE COMPLEX, PROVIDING
CONSTANTLY MOVING FRAMES OF
REFERENCE. THUS, THE COURTYARDS
PROVIDE AN ENCLOSURE WITHIN
WHICH ONE REORIENTS AND
REFRESHES THEIR BEARINGS.

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – PLAN AT GROUND
INK ON VELLUM HAND DRAWN PLATE FROM 1989

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – SECTIONS
INK ON VELLUM HAND DRAWN PLATE FROM 1989

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – ARRIVAL APRON
PHOTOREALISTIC RENDERING

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EXPLORING FORMAL AND SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS AT
DIFFERENT SCALES
“THE PLAN IS A KIT OF PARTS”
LOUIS I. KAHN
THE ADVANTAGE OF COURTYARD
PLANNING IS THAT IT PROVIDES
COMPLETE FREEDOM IN MANIPULATING
INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS THAT ENCLOSE IT ,
GIVING EACH ONE A SPECIAL PLACE AND
CHARACTER WITHIN THE WHOLE. THE
“KIT OF PARTS” BECOMES LEGIBLE WITHIN
THE ARTICULATED CONFINES OF THE
ENCLOSURE. WHAT IS WITHIN ALSO
BECOMES WITHOUT. EACH PAUSE OFFERS
A NEW HORIZON, AND A DEFINITE SENSE OF
PLACE. COURTYARD AT IMPERIAL COMPLEX – FATEHPUR SIKRI
PROPOSED PROJECT – COURTYARD

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING –COURTYARD LOOKING
TOWARDS ENTRANCE HALL

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EXPLORING TRANSITIONAL SPACES AND VISTAS
SHADED PORTICOES ARE OFTEN THE
NORM IN HOT DRY CLIMATES, BUT AS
LINKAGES BETWEEN BUILDINGS THEY
ALSO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK OF
VISTAS TO HELP ORIENT ONESELF
WITHIN THE ENSEMBLE. AT EACH
TURN, A PAUSE HELPS. AT EACH PAUSE
IS A NEW VISTA. EACH THRESHOLD
BECOMES A PLACE BY ITSELF,
OFFERING A CHANGE IN LEVEL TO
STOP OR PONDER, OR A NOOK TO
SIMPLY SEEK RECLUSE.
“MAN, AFTER ALL, BREATHES BOTH IN AND
OUT. SHOULDN’T ARCHITECTURE DO THE
SAME?”
ALDO VAN EYCK
IMPERIAL COMPLEX AT FATEHPUR SIKRI
PROPOSED PROJECT

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – COURTYARD LOOKING
TOWARDS ENTRANCE HALL, AUDITORIUM AND HOTEL

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – INNER COURTYARD
LOOKING TOWARDS THE SPORTS HALLS, LIBRARY AND ENTRANCE HALL

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EXPLORING INTERMEDIARY SPACES
AND CLIMATE CONTROL
EVERY ARCHITECT THAT HAS WORKED IN
AHMEDABAD KNOWS HOW STRONG THE SUN IS
OVER HERE. THE HOT DRY CLIMATE AND HIGH
DIURNAL TEMPERATURE RANGE DEMAND THE
USE OF SHADED PORTICOES THAT CAN ALSO BE
SUN FILLED SPACES IN THE WINTER. THE
ARCHITECTURAL ADVANTAGE OF SUCH SEMI-
OPEN SPACES IS THAT THEY HELP ORIENT THE
USERS INSTEAD OF DISORIENTING THEM, AS IS
COMMONLY EXPERIENCED WITHIN DOUBLE-
LOADED CORRIDORS THAT ARE ARTIFICIALLY
LIT.
LOUIS KAHN –IIM
AHMEDABAD
LOUIS KAHN –IIM
AHMEDABAD
PROPOSED PROJECT -
HALLWAY

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – GUEST SUITES HALLWAY

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
LOOKING FROM ENTRANCE TOWARDS BANQUET HALL

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – STAIRWAYS
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS WITH LOOKOUTS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – INDOOR SPORTS HALL

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – INNER COURTYARD

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – ENTRANCE LOBBY

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – RECEPTION AT LOBBY

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – ENTRANCE LOBBY
LOOKING THROUGH TO INNER COURTYARD

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – HALLWAYS AND ENTRANCES
THERE IS ALWAYS A BREAK FOR DAYLIGHT

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – LIBRARY

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – LAYERED ELEMENTS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – PM SILHOUETTE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – TWILIGHT AT INNER COURT

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – SUNSET VIEW

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – AMPHITHEATER

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – AMPHITHEATER
LATE EVENING CULTURAL EVENT

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – AMPHITHEATER
REHEARSALS FOR CULTURAL EVENTS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – AMPHITHEATER
WITH BANQUET HALL IN BACKGROUND ABOVE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – SHADED PORTICO
LINKING BUILDINGS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE COURTYARDS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – SHADED PORTICO: NOON
TRANSITIONAL SPACES TO THE OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – SHADED PORTICO: MORNING
TRANSITIONAL SPACES TO THE OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – SHADED PORTICO: EVENING
TRANSITIONAL SPACES TO THE OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – UNDER THE “CHATTRI”
TRANSITIONAL SPACES AND LOUNGES AT PORTICOES

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – UNDER THE “CHATTRI”
TRANSITIONAL SPACES AND LOUNGES AT PORTICOES

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – LAZY SPACES AND NOOKS
NOOK ADJACENT TO THE BAR/CAFÉ ENTRANCE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
ENTRANCE AND BOARDROOM WITH GUEST SUITES IN BACKGROUND

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
THE FORECOURT

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – FRONT COURTYARD
SPORTS HALL, LIBRARY AND ENTRANCE HALL

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
ENTRANCE, BOARD ROOM AND AUDITORIUM AREAS VIEWED FROM COURTYARD

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – COURTYARD
LOOKING TOWARDS ENTRANCE HALL, BOARD ROOM, GUEST SUITES AND SHOPPING ARCADE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – COURTYARD
LOOKING TOWARDS GUEST SUITES AND SHOPPING ARCADE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – FRONT COURTYARD
CONTIGUOUS VIEW LOOKINGTOWARDS BAR, BANQUET HALL AND HOTEL

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – BANQUET HALL
WITH RAISED OUTDOOR EXTENSIONS TOWARDS POOLSIDE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – BANQUET HALL
LOOKING DOWN THE SHADED PORTICO AT THE ENTRANCES TO THE HALL

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
BANQUET HALL AND CABANAS VIEWED FROM POOLSIDE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – POOLSIDE COURTYARD
CABANA SUPPER AT THE OUTDOOR EXTENSIONS OF BANQUET AREA

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
NIGHTTIME VIEW

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – POOLSIDE COURTYARD
LOOKING TOWARDS SPORTS AND ENTRANCE HALLS THROUGH THE INTERMEDIATE LINK

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – POOLS ON AXIS
WATER ACTS AS A COOLING ELEMENT

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
FOUNTAIN ON AXIS - WATER ACTS AS A COOLING ELEMENT

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – CHILDRENS POOL
BANQUET HALL AND AMPHITHEATER IN BACKGROUND

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – CHILDREN’S POOL
VIEWED FROM ADULT’S POOL DIVING BOARD LEVEL LOOKING TOWARDS LAKE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – POOLSIDE COURT
LOOKING TOWARDS GYMNASIUM AND CARD ROOMS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – POOLSIDE LOOKING EAST
DISPLAYS THE SHIFT IN AXES THAT PROVIDES A VISUAL DYNAMIC TO MOVEMENTS WITHIN

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – COURTYARD
SHIFTS IN AXES PROVIDE A VISUAL DYNAMIC TO THE ENSEMBLE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – TRANSITIONAL SPACES
LOOKING TOWARDS SPORTS HALL FROM ENTRANCE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS
MINI-GOLF PLAZA LOOKING TOWARDS SPORTS HALL

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – OUTDOOR RECREATION AREAS
MINI-CROQUET PLAZA LOOKING TOWARDS SPORTS HALL

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
LIBRARY, WITH SPORTS HALL IN BACKGROUND

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
LOOKING TOWARDS HOTEL SUITES

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING –PLATFORMS AND PLATEAUS
PATRONS LAZING BY THE LAKESIDE PROMENADE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – PROMENADE DOWN TO LAKE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
VIEW FROM DIVINGBOARD TO BANQUET HALL POOLSIDE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – POOLWARDS VIEW

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – POOLWARDS VIEW
LOOKING INWARDS FROM AMPHITHEATER

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
PROMENADE FROM POOL TO LAKEFRONT WITH WATERTANK-TOWER IN FOREGROUND

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – AXIAL VIEWS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – LAKESIDE BOARDWALK
TWILIGHT AT THE PIER

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – LAKESIDE BOARDWALK

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – LAKESIDE MOOR
CLOSE UP AT PIER

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – WATERFRONT

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – OUTDOOR DINING AREAS

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING – OUTDOOR DINING AREAS
TERRACED GARDEN PLATFORMS OVERLOOK THE PROMENADE AND LAKE

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PROPOSED CLUB BUILDING
DEPARTURE GATE

87. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING