SDE 4

History

SDE 4 marks the first new-build, net-zero energy building in Singapore. Designed as an 8,500-square-metre, six-story, multi-disciplinary space, the building’s flexible design and high efficiency reflect CDE’s ambition to promote a new form of teaching space as a scaffold for research. Various key design decisions were made to reflect this ambition such as the dismountable facade, and a free open plan.

Concept

The building was developed as a series of juxtaposed boxes on different leveled platforms to express its programmatic contents; this was to counter the preconceived notion that high-energy buildings had to be opaque. What resulted from this interplay of boxes are interstitial spaces that promote interaction and visual connectivity.

The South facing façade is punctuated by alternating terraced volumes, landscape balconies, and informal spaces while the large over-sailing roof protrudes and embeds a tropical portico, built around mature existing trees. This openness allows spaces to flow freely across the envelope of the building, bringing the surrounding landscape into close proximity with interior spaces and vice versa. The east and west facades are covered with an aluminum curtain that filters that sunlight.

Designed as a natural purification system, the landscape improves water quality while encouraging lifestyle activities and teaching about water. Runoff from the roof and hardscape is cleansed by passing through the soil, which removes sediments and soluble nutrients. Nearly 50% of the plants selected are native species and most are from the southern tropics, a choice that also provides opportunities for environmental education.

The building is designed to be climate-responsive with net-zero energy consumption featuring a range of sustainable design features and more than 1200 solar photovoltaic panels on its rooftop.

Awards

– Winner of Global Human Settlements Model of Building Category (2018, Sustainable Cities and Human Settlement)
– International WELL Building Institute 2019- WELL Certified Gold (1st university building in the world and 1st building in Singapore)
– “Best Public Use Project with Public Funding” (2019, Blueprint Awards)
– Platinum(Zero-Energy) for New Non-Residential Building (2019, BCA Greenmark Award)
– Winner of Institutional Architecture Category (2020, The Architecture MasterPrize)
– 1st Zero-Energy Certified building in SEA (2020, International Living Future Institute Award)
– Winner of Learning Category (2020, IFI Design Distinction Award)
– Best New Public Building Category (2020. Wallpaper Design Awards)

SDE 4 Spaces