Executive Programme

The NUS–Architectural Conservation Laboratory (ArCLab) serves as a national and regional platform for capacity building in architectural conservation, strategically bridging research, professional practice, and public policy. 

Conceived as a hands-on training and demonstration facility, NUS-ArCLab equips building professionals such as contractors, consultants, and government officers with applied technical competencies in traditional materials, conservation science, building pathology, and diagnostic methodologies tailored to tropical climates. Its practice-oriented pedagogy integrates laboratory analysis, on-site investigation, material testing, and heritage management through short-term training programmes — Executive Programmes. The programmes equip participants in making evidence-based decisions in the repair, retrofit, and adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

NUS-ArCLab also trains students from the Master of Arts in Architectural Conservation (MAArC) programme offered by the NUS Department of Architecture, providing a rigorous academic foundation combined with immersive, hands-on, practice-based learning. With a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and mentorship, ArCLab fosters a new generation of conservation leaders who are critically engaged, ethically grounded, and technically equipped to steward cultural heritage into the future.

See below for more details on our workshops/programmes*, or see our past programmes.

* If you don’t see a programme that meets your interests, we welcome your suggestions—please feel free to write to us with topics you would like us to consider.

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PRACTICAL BUILDING CONSERVATION SKILLS

— DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR OF OLD BUILDINGS

Working with experienced practitioners and researchers, this programme aims to provide practical advice based on understanding established principles and good practices in conserving old buildings and materials in Singapore through lectures, discussions, demonstrations and site visits. This programme is based on the principle of “maximising preservation and minimising cost” and adopting cautious approaches and solutions to heritage conservation on a case-by-case basis. The topics covered include understanding building materials, their deterioration and potential remedies.

The following common traditional building materials can be included

• Roofing (clay tiles and copper)
• Timber
• Brick
• Lime plaster
• Shanghai plaster

Learning Outcomes

• Develop familiarity with the functions of traditional building elements/materials.
• Systematic understanding of the possible causes and consequences/effects of deterioration.
• Assessment of the building condition using diagnostic evaluations.
• Awareness of the various treatments and repair techniques available.
• Understanding of the significance of care and maintenance.

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PRACTICAL BUILDING CONSERVATION SKILLS

— GLOBAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL EFFORTS IN CONSERVING C20 BUILDINGS 

This programme aims to introduce conservation principles, methodology, and technical solutions to the deterioration and failure of twentieth-century building materials such as concrete and building systems. Extant knowledge about conserving twentieth-century buildings will be reviewed through guest lectures, case studies, discussions and field trips from Singapore and around the world. 

The programme will give participants access to some of the best experts in the field who will share their knowledge and experience of conserving the architecture of the recent past and heritage challenges posed by the architecture and technology of twentieth-century buildings.

Learning Outcomes:

• Familiarity with the value-based approaches and applying the processes of determining values and significances for twentieth-century heritage.
• Understanding of the challenges posed by the architecture and technology of twentieth-century buildings and their impact on heritage conservation.
• Awareness of the technical solutions to address the deterioration and failure of materials and systems in twentieth-century buildings.
• Ability to develop strategies for preserving the architecture of the recent past and balancing heritage conservation with modern development needs.

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INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

— THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT PLANS (CMP) AND HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENTS (HIA)

“To better conserve our shared history, we will formalise a heritage evaluation framework, or a Heritage Impact Assessment framework, for larger-scale development projects in areas of heritage significance.”
– Minister Desmond Lee, 7 April 2022, Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Inspirational Talk

Conservation Management Plan (CMP)

A CMP is a strategic, values-based document designed to ensure the long-term preservation, management, and sustainable use of heritage assets in accordance with international best practices. It identifies both tangible elements (buildings, landscapes, objects) and intangible attributes (memories, rituals, meanings).

It is typically prepared at the pre-design stage and for conservation projects in connection with a planned redevelopment of a site or the adaptive reuse of an individual historic structure/site, which may include additions and alterations, and demolition works. It may also be prepared as part of a total assessment management framework. Where one is prepared for sites of new uses, it may also be updated after the works are complete, shifting the policy focus to the site in operation.

A CMP involves conducting archival and physical research to help understand the site before evaluating its heritage values. It assesses opportunities and risks in key areas, including current condition, sustainability, accessibility, and interpretation. It concludes by outlining relevant policies for conservation, maintenance, and adaptive reuse, offering a comprehensive framework for informed decision-making.

CMPs support informed decision-making by providing a clear framework for assessing changes, prioritising interventions, and balancing conservation needs with community use and development objectives. A CMP can encourage engagement and collaboration among professionals, policymakers, and local communities to achieve successful conservation results collectively. In conclusion, a CMP is not about preventing change; rather, it concerns the process of managing change in a way that is both sensitive and innovative.

Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA)

A HIA is prepared once there is an outline design to assess how proposed changes (including restoration, construction, demolition, redevelopment, infrastructural upgrades, etc.) might impact the heritage values of the site. It aids decision-makers in anticipating risks and implementing mitigation measures during the design process and later throughout the construction stage.

HIA is crucial for safeguarding a project site’s cultural significance and preventing inappropriate change by assessing the potential impacts of proposals in setting, spaces, fabric, etc. By evaluating the site’s vulnerabilities, a HIA enables the formulation of mitigation strategies that support informed decision-making and integrate heritage conservation into the broader planning process, helping maintain the site’s significance and long-term sustainability for future generations. A HIA remains an essential tool throughout the construction stage, as it’s necessary to monitor for any deviation from the report’s contents that affects the site’s cultural significance.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the conceptual and practical foundations of CMP and HIA.
• Gain knowledge of value-based conservation frameworks.
• Learn how to understand a site, assess its heritage values and significance, identify its vulnerabilities and opportunities and formulate conservation policies
• Learn to assess change, prepare justification and formulate appropriate mitigation measures.
• Recognise the importance of stakeholder participation and community engagement in managing historic sites.