AkiLA 2024: Building Blocks of Friendship and Fun at NUS Architecture Orientation

AkiLA 2024, the annual Freshmen Orientation Programme organised by The Architecture Society (TAS), delivered an action-packed three days of exciting games and activities for the freshies of NUS Architecture and Landscape Architecture from 2nd to 4th July. This year’s theme focused on the childhood innocence of building blocks, challenging participants to construct their best city throughout the camp.

The orientation kicked off with engaging talks from upper-year students, followed by a series of collaborative activities where freshies presented their ideas and built their own city in the final game. This immersive experience offered a captivating introduction to campus life and strengthened camaraderie among the Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (BA Arch) and Bachelor of Landscape Architecture (BLA) students.

‘Our Best Freshman’, Isabel, shared her thoughts on her time at the AkiLA camp, expressing both excitement and appreciation for the experience. “I’m really glad I decided to join AkiLA — not only was it super fun, but it was extremely useful too! The entire orientation was curated to include collaboration and creativity, from the overall goal spanning the three days to each individual game. It was also a great way to meet new people in the faculty, from seniors to peers, making entering into uni less daunting. It’s a great opportunity to make friends, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!”

Project Director, Lim QianWei shared her reflections on leading the team to make AkiLA 2024 a memorable event: “Being the PD of AkiLA, it was exhilarating to see the results of all the AkiLA team’s effort come to fruition over those three days. Seeing the freshmen stream in on the first day was nerve-wracking, wondering if they would have a good time over the next three days. However, as the days went by, getting to see them enjoy getting to know each other through the games and activities made all the effort so worth it!”

She concluded, “We hope the event has sparked the flame of new bonds and given our freshies a warm welcome to the NUS DOA community. We wish them all the best for the semester and more exciting times to come!”

AkiLA 2024 not only introduced new students to the academic and social aspects of university life but also set the stage for lasting friendships and a supportive community within the NUS Architecture and Landscape Architecture programmes. The success of the event is a testament to the tireless efforts of the Orientation Group Leaders (OGLs) and the entire organising team.

Follow AkiLA on Instagram at @akilafop for the latest updates and more!