{"data":{"news":{"items":[{"title":"Gaia: Largest wooden building in Asia officially opened","date":"2023-05-19 11:02:22","id":4629,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2023/05/1684465392097_DSCF1006_Edited_fullres IY.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has officially opened its eighth zero-energy building. Named Gaia after the Greek goddess of earth, this six-storey development is dubbed the largest wooden building in Asia. It is home to the Nanyang Business School (NBS), covering 43,500 sq m of gross floor area.

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The new facility is built using mass engineered timber (MET). This green technology was first adopted for the construction of NTU’s mega sports hall, The Wave, launched in 2017. The two buildings are the works of Japanese architect Toyo Ito.

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As the name suggests, Gaia is constructed with sustainability in mind. According to NTU, compared to a normal building, Gaia produces about 2,500 fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year – equivalent to more than 7,000 roundtrip flights from Singapore to Hong Kong.

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The emission reduction is achieved through energy efficient systems and renewable technologies. The timber used for the construction of Gaia was sourced from sustainably managed forests, which means new trees are planted to replace those that are harvested, explained NTU. The carbon offset from planting trees to replace those used in Gaia totals 5,800 t of CO2 – same as the carbon footprint of about 17,000 return flights between Singapore and Hong Kong.

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NTU also revealed that solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the rooftop churn out 516,000 kWh of clean energy to power the building annually – enough to power 169 three-room HDB flats for a year. Instead of fans, Gaia has sun shading fins along parts of its facade and incorporates extensive open areas, terraces, and air wells to increase ventilation.

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Its air-conditioning system saves energy by using passive cooling coils to chill the air without the use of fans (passive displacement ventilation), added NTU. These coils work by creating a natural convection cycle, cooling the air as it sinks downwards, which displaces the warm air upwards.

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Furthermore, external facade bricks from the NTU Innovation Centre, which previously stood at where Gaia is located, were preserved, and re-used to build a decorative wall in the building, in a nod to the university’s heritage.

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Gaia is the eighth building project on the NTU campus that has received the Green Mark Platinum (Zero Energy) – the highest award issued by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) to recognise buildings that consume as much energy as they produce. Presently, there are 16 certified zero-energy buildings in the country, of which half are located on NTU grounds. This makes NTU the greenest campus in Singapore.

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NTU said plans for sustainability related programmes in Gaia are underway, in collaboration with industrial collaborators, to inspire more to learn and live sustainably through an in-person experience. All of Gaia’s classrooms and laboratories are also equipped with the latest technologies, as part of the university’s Smart Campus initiative.

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Singapore’s Minister for Education, Chan Chun Sing, who was guest-of-honour at the opening ceremony, pointed out that “as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) play an important role in making sustainability a competitive advantage for Singapore. Gaia is a testament of NTU’s continued efforts to be a leading sustainable university. I look forward to more innovations from the community, as we all do our part to create a sustainable future.”

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“Gaia is an integral part of NTU’s commitment to sustainability,” stressed Prof Ho Teck Hua, president of NTU, as he concluded his speech. “It demonstrates an innovative approach to creating a sustainable urban environment. We hope it will serve as an inspiration to many others.”

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All images: NTU Singapore

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Construction of the new Nanyang Technological University Academic Building South (NTU ABS) in Singapore is well underway. Upon completion, it will be one of Asia’s largest mass engineered timber (MET) buildings.

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Aurecon was engaged to deliver civil and structural engineering services to bring this iconic building to life, including consultancy services for the demolition of the existing Innovation Centre, conceptualisation and detailed design of all structural elements, preparation of tender documents, and construction support.

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For the project, Aurecon has also won the Innovation and Sustainability awards at the 2022 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards Southeast Asia, which took place in mid October.

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The RICS Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. They recognise industry-leading achievements and demonstrate the upholding of the highest standards of professionalism and ethics by individuals and teams across built and natural environments.

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Construction process ‘simplified significantly’

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Inspired by the environmental benefits and versatility of timber, the building epitomises the adept and innovative use of MET. Aligned to the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) push for design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) as part of the Construction Industry Transformation Map, the Aurecon team adopted a modular design approach and prefabricated timber components.

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Given that the timber had to be manufactured to precise specifications and thus had to have design details finalised ahead of construction, Aurecon undertook early, detailed 3D-digital documentation and utilised BIM-Revit to create floorplans and isometric views for easy visualisation for the client.

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With each component manufactured through precise digital design, the construction process has been simplified significantly, focusing mainly on assembly at the site. As a result, this innovative approach significantly increased construction productivity and led to a cleaner, quieter and safer construction site.

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Andrew Maher, group managing principal for eminence, digital & innovation at Aurecon, shared, “Innovation is truly part and parcel of all that we do at Aurecon. It is heartening to see the industry recognise how our people go above and beyond what is possible, to bring about groundbreaking solutions that create a more sustainable future for our clients and communities.”

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Aurecon further explained that “the use of MET is highly sustainable as it is renewable and results in less waste, less noise and less dust generated. In terms of design and liveability, timber adds warmth and natural quality interiors, creating an environment that is conducive for learning and discourse. With MET providing a higher level of thermal performance, heating and cooling costs of the building will also be reduced.”

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“We are honoured to have won the awards. This affirms the strong technical acumen and deep experience of our engineers to deliver an iconic building that will inspire and shape the growth of students for many generations to come,” said Jean-Marc Girard, chief operations officer for Asia, who is currently leading Aurecon’s Singapore business.

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Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University has unveiled its new sports hall - The Wave. It is believed to be the first large-scale building in Southeast Asia that features an innovative timber construction technology known as mass engineered timber (MET).

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Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) recently inaugurated its new sports hall named The Wave. It is said to be the first large-scale building in Southeast Asia that features an innovative timber construction technology known as mass engineered timber (MET).

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According to NTU, such technology provides five times better heat insulation than concrete and is able to support a continuous 72-m wave-like roof without the need for internal columns. This opens up a cavernous three-storey space with no internal pillar, which can host three full-sized basketball courts or 13 badminton courts.

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The Wave is designed with external columns to support the seven long-span timber arches weighing over 440 t. This is possible because MET is much stronger than concrete or steel when comparing its weight-to-strength ratio, said NTU. And as the building process involves assembling prefabricated parts, construction is sped up, resulting in 25 percent savings in manpower.

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The Wave consists of 980 mechanised retractable seats, plus a special cooling system that chills the air as it enters the hall so that no conventional air-conditioning systems are needed, added NTU. Other eco-friendly features include energy-saving LED lighting and solar powered systems.

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The building is also designed to take advantage of its natural surroundings. Using computer modelling of the sun and wind patterns on-site, the building designers aimed to harness the natural winds, explained NTU, and thus good ventilation can be achieved with average wind speeds of about 0.4 m per second.

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“Sustainability is a core value of this university, and we walk the green talk, from education and research, to the building technologies on the NTU campus,” said Professor Bertil Andersson, president of NTU. “As an owner of a pine tree forest in Sweden, I’m a firm believer in sustainable forestry. I’m proud that NTU has pioneered the innovative use of wood in buildings here resulting in another iconic NTU structure, The Wave.”

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Note: More detailed information on the project will be published in the SEAC Jul/Aug 2017 issue.

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