Deraya contracted the world’s most-renowned university architecture firm to conceptualize its campus culture and develop its engineering designs. The firm is a world-leader in campus design and academic building architecture. Its long track-record of excellence spans some of the world's leading academic institutions including Harvard University, Carnegie Mellon University, Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Virginia, in addition to Deraya University.
Deraya's masterplan was conceived to promote a collaborative learning environment and to emphasize the university's importance to Upper Egypt. Deraya is therefore modeled after the ubiquitous Nile River, the country's "artery of life". Deraya's design allows it to draw on this powerful Nile connection and deliver an equally commanding message positioning itself as the region's "artery of knowledge".