Special Projects
About
Achieving Translational Design + Performance Excellence in real-world applications at DOA:
Design Excellence
Net Zero Carbon (Operational & Embodied)
Well & Sustainability across the DOA/NUS Campus
Scope
Using the NUS campus as a Laboratory, the Special Projects team translates and integrates architecture, design, and performance research into net-zero energy, low or net-zero carbon buildings for our students, faculty, and public.
Team
Dean’s Chair Associate Professor Erik L’Heureux FAIA
Director (2022-current)
(2018-2022, Vice Dean for Special Projects)
Erik L’Heureux FAIA is the director of the Master of Architecture Programme, and the Dean’s Chair Associate Professor at the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, where he teaches the next generation of architects to be committed to the complexities and potential of architecture located along the equator. Before arriving on the equator in 2003, he practiced architecture in New York City while teaching at the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at The Cooper Union. His creative practice combines passive performance, pattern, and simplicity as a response toward the equatorial hot, wet climate and dense urban context manifesting through numerous buildings, including the design of SDE 1 & 3. The Wheelwright Prize from Harvard University has recognized his creative efforts, as well as several AIA New York and NY State Design Awards, SARA NY, National Design Awards, and INDE Design Awards. In addition to his design practice, his writing includes Renovating Carbon (ORO Editions 2022), Deep Veils (ORO Editions, 2014); he was co-editor for Drawing Climate (Birkhäuser 2021), and numerous research and published articles.
Associate Director (Energy & Technology Services)
Bertrand Lasternas
Bertrand Lasternas holds a graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and is an associate director at the National University of Singapore. Before arriving in Singapore, he was a senior research scientist at the Center for Building Performance at Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, USA). Alongside his research commitments, he now oversees and manages the portfolio of campus redevelopment projects, pushing energy efficiency performance and system integration.
Associate Director (Sustainability Services)
Giovanni Cossu
Giovanni Cossu is a sustainable development professional and associate director at the National University of Singapore. With experience in real estate and sustainability services, he is part of the senior management group at the School of Design and Environment where he oversees and manages a portfolio of campus redevelopment projects and corporate sustainability initiatives. This includes the design and construction of the first purpose-built net-zero energy building in Singapore as well as the adaptive reuse of existing facilities aiming for net-zero and net-zero water targets. He supports corporate sustainability development through industry partnerships and international collaborations resulting in programs such as the WELL Health and Safety Rating and the NUS WELL Portfolio. His work creates new opportunities for learning and real-world engagement for a wide community of students and industry professionals in Singapore and beyond.
Past Directors
Nirmal Kishnani (2013-2017); David Cheong (2017-2018)
Team (architects, engineers, sustainability professionals, researchers etc)
Han Qi, Zulkarnain M. Zin, Amanda Mo, Anirudh Chandar, Astrid Mayadinta, Azizul Izwan B. Roslan, Cynthia Wee, Epiphanie Barli Lie, Harsh Vardhan, Iven Peh, Joel Tay, Krista Yeong, Lakshmi Menon, Lee Lip Jiang, Ng Sze Wee, Nur Syarafina Binte Kamsani, Ong Chan Hao, Reuben Lim, Stephanie Kui Hui Guat, Zeno Lee, Zuliandi Azli
Publications
Publications include Renovating Carbon (2022), SDE Zero (2019), and academic and conference papers leveraging building experience and data collated during the span of SDE 1, 3, and 4 ‘s design, construction, and post-occupancy. The research outcomes of Special Projects have supported research papers, thesis students, and academic modules through the critical review of design methods, design values, data sharing, and public presentations.
Renovating Carbon (2022)
“Carbon is everywhere: in the soil, in the air, in life. The foundation of architecture and the built environment, carbon is also infamous for intensifying the climate catastrophes around us. Architects, by the nature of their education and practice, transform carbon in the built environment. Twelve critical essays in this book present a constellation of voices surrounding carbon and its relationship with architecture, renovation, material, form, and design pedagogy. The renovation of two buildings on the equator at the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) at the National University of Singapore serves as the scaffold for reflection, raising key questions about the values embedded in the architecture of architecture schools: What principles might a low-carbon future embody? What do renovations mean for rapidly urbanizing Asia? How can they transform the relationship between climate and architecture on the equator? Do they demand new equatorial forms? How can material innovations influence their design? How can the design of architecture schools influence a new generation of architects toward a sustainable future? These and other questions are explored here, illustrating the models of thought that have shaped architecture and offer ways to sustainably transform carbon in our warming world.”
SDE Zero (2019)
“The ability to see our embeddedness in the world is absolutely critical to the future of sustainability. Projects that link occupants to networks help us view architecture as a part of larger natural systems. This transparency heightens the argument of sustainability by reconnecting buildings to the global ecosystem. The School of Design and Environment (SDE) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) is reimagining its campus architecture. The goal for the School’s precinct is to rediscuss sustainability by proposing new prototypes of sustainable design that meld performance and beauty. SDE4 is the fourth block of the SDE campus and the first net-zero energy building in NUS. This book presents an overview of the strategies and ambitions applied to SDE4 as well as glimpses of the School’s aspirations for the future.”
Research Articles
L’Heureux, Erik (2019). Hot & Wet Campus Architecture. Keynote Speaker, 7th Annual International Conference on Architecture and Civil Engineering, Singapore.
L’Heureux, Erik (2021). SDE Carbon Story. Invited Lecture, Land Transport Authority, Singapore.
L’Heureux, Erik (2021). Zeroing in on Net Zero Carbon Buildings. Invited Speaker, Urban Land Institute Conference, Singapore.
Li, Wenxin & Chong, Adrian & Lasternas, Bertrand & Peck, Thian & Tham, K.. (2021). Quantifying the effectiveness of desk dividers in reducing droplet and airborne virus transmission. Indoor Air. 32. 10.1111/ina.12950.
Li, Wenxin & Chong, Adrian & Hasama, Takamasa & Xu, Lei & Lasternas, Bertrand & Tham, K. & Lam, Khee. (2021). Effects of ceiling fans on airborne transmission in an air-conditioned space. Building and Environment. 198. 107887. 10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107887.
Mihara, Kuniaki & Sekhar, Chandra & Takemasa, Yuichi & Lasternas, Bertrand & Tham, K.. (2021). Thermal and perceived air quality responses between a dedicated outdoor air system with ceiling fans and conventional air-conditioning system. Building and Environment. 190. 107574. 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107574.
Mihara, Kuniaki & Sekhar, Chandra & Takemasa, Yuichi & Lasternas, Bertrand & Tham, K.. (2019). Thermal comfort and energy performance of a dedicated outdoor air system with ceiling fans in hot and humid climate. Energy and Buildings. 10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109448.
Mihara, Kuniaki & Sekhar, Chandra & Tham, K. & Takemasa, Yuichi & Lasternas, Bertrand. (2019). Effects of temperature , air movement and initial metabolic rate on thermal sensation during transient state in the tropics. Building and Environment. 155. 70-82. 10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.03.030.
Mihara, Kuniaki & Lasternas, Bertrand & Takemasa, Yuichi & Tham, K. & Sekhar, Chandra. (2018). Indoor environment evaluation of a Dedicated Outdoor Air System with ceiling fans in the tropics – A thermal manikin study. Building and Environment. 143. 10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.07.048.
Zhan, Sicheng & Chong, Adrian & Lasternas, Bertrand. (2020). Automated recognition and mapping of building management system (BMS) data points for building energy modeling (BEM). Building Simulation. 14. 1-10. 10.1007/s12273-020-0612-7.
Conference Papers
Mihara, Kuniaki & Sekhar, Chandra & Takemasa, Yuichi & Lasternas, Bertrand & Tham, K.. (2020). Field Survey on the Effect of Air Movement on Thermal Comfort in Premises Served by DOAS at Warm Setpoints. The 16th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality & Climate, South Korea.
Conejos, Sheila & Chew, Michael & Lasternas, Bertrand. (2019). Green Maintainability and Future Adaptive Reuse of the Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) in Singapore. International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment (SBE19 Seoul) Seoul, South Korea.
Mihara, Kuniaki & Sekhar, Chandra & Takemasa, Yuichi & Lasternas, Bertrand & Tham, K.. (2019). Effects of Furniture and Posture on Cooling Effect under a Dedicated Outdoor Air System with Ceiling Fans. Healthy Buildings 2019 Asia, Changsha, China.
Mihara, Kuniaki & Lasternas, Bertrand & Takemasa, Yuichi & Tham, K. & Sekhar, Chandra. (2018). Evaluation of Thermal Environment with Elevated Air Speed using a Breathing Thermal Manikin. Indoor Air 2018, Philadelphia.
White Papers
Clay Nexler, Khee Poh Lam, Bertrand Lasternas. How to build smart, zero carbon buildings – and why it matters. World Economic Forum.
Design Awards
SDE 1
● ‘Best of the Best’ Design Award (2021 INDE.Awards)
● 1st prize for ‘The Learning Space’ Design Award (2021 INDE.Awards)
● IWIBI WELLTM Health-Safety Rating, 1st series of buildings in Singapore and 1st in the Educational Sector worldwide (2021)
● International Architecture Award 2021 by Chicago Anthenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies (School and Universities)
● 2020 Design Merit Award by The American Institute of Architects, New York State (AIANYS) for the Unbuilt category
● Platinum (SLE) Green Mark Award for Buildings (2019), for existing Non-Residential Building
SDE 3
● Merit Award for the Unbuilt Category (2020, The American Institute of Architects, New York State) New York State (AIANYS) for the Unbuilt category [SDE 1 & 3] ards)
● Platinum (SLE) for existing Non-Residential Building (2019, Green Mark Award for Buildings)
SDE 4
● 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 build- ing 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)