5 Buildings To Visit in University Campuses (Singapore)

In Singapore, you can visit a lot of places to appreciate architecture. This list is composed of my top five structures to visit in university campuses in Singapore. The two campuses included in this list are the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), which are also two of the most well-planned campuses here.

1. South Spine Learning Hub

Nanyang Technological University

Architect: CPG Consultants Pte Ltd

Design Consultant: Heatherwick Studio Pte

Landscape Consultant: Perfect Sense

This is an eight-storey building, also a 24-hour centre, which houses new generation teaching spaces promoting more interactive small group instruction and active learning. It was awarded Green Mark Platinum by BCA last 2013.

Some of the key green features
| glass design (enhances thermal comfort)

| high efficiency chilled water system
| passive displacement ventilation

| energy efficient T5 lighting (for tutorial rooms)

| extensive landscape and garden green roof

| hydrophilic polymer for planting (increase soil absorption distribution of moisture)

| use of ground granulated blast furnace slag and recycled concrete aggregate

View of the atrium from the topmost floor

Front view of the building from the opposite road.

2. School of Art, Design and Media (SADM)

Nanyang Technological University

Architect: CPG Consultants Pte Ltd

A view of the whole building.

This is a five-storey building with office, lecture theatre, library, and auditorium. It was awarded Green Mark Platinum by BCA last 2013.

Some of the key green features

| motion sensors for all toilets and corridors.

| 100% green roof.

| CO2 sensor installed at all AHUs (to modulate fresh air intake)

3. Central Library

National University of Singapore

This is a multi-disciplinary library in NUS. I like the charm of this building for it is simple and will capture your attention at the same time. Industrial as it may look, it has its own magnetism.

View from the connecting bridge from AS building

4. Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

National University of Singapore

Architect: W Architects

Exterior facade of the building

This is a seven-storey building housing exhibition, research, education and controlled storage of specimens of one of the largest Southeast Asian collections of biodiversity which are more than half a million specimens of flora and fauna, together with three almost complete dinosaur fossils.

The facade is signifying a moss-covered boulder which is a result of a function for minimum daylight penetration to meet the museum’s design requirements.

It was awarded Green Mark Gold by BCA just this year.

Some of the key green features

| windowless building (reduced heat gain and cooling load/energy)

| rainwater harvesting tank (can irrigate the landscape up to three days)

5. Ventus

National University of Singapore

Architect: MKPL Architects Pte Ltd

Landscape Consultant: ICN Design International Pte Ltd

Being the university campus infrastructure building, it simply reflects the sustainability of the whole campus consisting of office, meeting, and communal spaces. It was awarded Green Mark Platinum by BCA last 2013 for its passive design and that it both complemented and integrated with its surroundings.

Some of the key green features

| central wind scoop

| innovative structural design

| sustainability education (by provision of information and by experience)

path navigation system

Green features of the buildings were based from BCA Green Mark website.

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"Organic architecture seeks superior sense of use and a finer sense of comfort, expressed in organic simplicity."

-Frank Lloyd Wright