NUS School of Design and Environment 1 & 3
Originally built in the 1970s, the National University of Singapore (NUS) School of Design and Environment (SDE) 1 & 3 are among the oldest buildings on the NUS campus. Through sustainable and green designs that extensively integrated the pre-existing built and natural environments, the existing institutional buildings are reinvented to accommodate a super-low carbon and net-zero energy, high-comfort academic environment.
Country
Singapore
Typology
Adaptive Reuse, Education
Year of Completion
2021 & 2023
Project Details
Embracing a sustainable “less is more” ethos
The transformation of SDE 1 and 3 embraces a sustainable “less is more” ethos, reflected in architectural solutions that promote a reduced carbon footprint. Distinctive external screens now cover the exterior, acting as a deep veil that offers sun shading, glare control, daylight shelves, and porous ventilation. Inside, the space has been retrofitted and redesigned to enhance cross-ventilation, reducing energy consumption through a hybrid cooling system.
Services Rendered
- Architectural Design
Awards
- SIA Architectural Design Awards 2023 – Merit Award (Educational and Community Buildings)
- SIA Architectural Design Awards 2023 – Merit Award (Additions and Alterations)
- INDE.Awards 2021 – ‘Best of the Best’ Award for SDE1
The removal of false ceilings and the exposure of the existing reinforced concrete frame not only enhances the user experience but also aligns with the sustainable ethos by preserving the embodied carbon.
