2024 Winter Issue of Urban Land - 76

ULI ASIA PACIFIC AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS
National University of Singapore Buildings * Singapore
TYPE: Redevelopment of former School
of Design and Environment (SDE)'s
campus - now College of Design and
Engineering (CDE) at the National
University of Singapore (NUS). New
build Net-positive Energy and Adaptive
reuse for low carbon and Net-zero
Energy.
USES: Educational
DEVELOPER: National University of
Singapore
DESIGNERS: SDE4: Serie + Multiply
Consultants Pte Ltd with Surbana
Jurong Consultants Pte Ltd | SDE1 & 3:
NUS College of Design and Engineering
with CPG Consultants Pte Ltd
SITE SIZE: 4.57 acres (1.85 ha)
DATE ACQUIRED: 1970s
DATE OPENED: 2/1/2023
BUILDINGS (SQ FT OR SQ M):
32,500 sq m (349,830 sq ft)
PARKING (# OF SPACES): 20
OPEN SPACE (SQ FT OR SQ M): n/a
buiLding sde4 is Singapore's first
purpose-built net zero building, while
buildings SDE1 & 3 serve as templates
for super-low carbon adaptive reuse.
SDE4 is an embodiment of clean
energy design that addresses the
complexities of the Singapore climate.
The structure is designed to be as
porous as possible so as to leverage
natural ventilation. In the words of one
juror: " Probably the most brilliant part
of this project is the way it captures
wind, enabling it to use fresh air and
breezes to cool the building. "
Perhaps the most noteworthy
technological feature relates to air
quality. Air conditioning is used only
when needed. Natural ventilation is
augmented by use of digital controls,
together with a hybrid cooling system
that supplies rooms with 100 percent
fresh, pre-cooled air, albeit at higher
temperatures (26 degrees) and
humidity levels. This is supplemented
by elevated air speeds set by ceiling
fans. The same system and design
philosophy is now being deployed in
other buildings in Singapore and the
region.
In terms of general sustainability,
SDE4 features a water detention
system that captures rainwater runoff.
This is then used either in-building for
the purposes if flushing and irrigation
or diverted into bio-detention basins
and ultimately discharged into external
drains. This is done in a controlled
manner in order to avoid widespread
flooding resulting from Singapore's
frequent heavy rain showers.
According to one juror: " On the
sustainability side, they get some of
the highest marks I have seen in terms
of research-they've gone through so
many exercises by working with their
engineering department to ensure they
can do this with the greatest amount
of sensitivity to the environment. "
The resulting model is highly
replicable, especially given its
low construction costs. Since the
prototypes were completed, the same
design principles have been exported
into subsequent redevelopment
projects elsewhere on the campus.
Ultimately, the goal is for the
techniques to be adopted more widely
by local and international construction
industries.
Industrial design studios with hybrid comfort systems and operable window walls in SDE4.
76
URBAN LAND WINTER 202 4
RORY GARDINER
2024 Winter Issue of Urban Land

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