Associate Professor Cheah Kok Ming is a leading figure in architectural education at the National University of Singapore’s College of Design & Engineering, where he serves as Assistant Dean and Deputy Head (Academic) on the Educator Track. An NUS alumnus and registered architect, his teaching philosophy emphasizes enquiry-led and research-informed design aimed at addressing challenges of land efficiency and future-proofing built environments. Professor Cheah curates the Construe & Construct lecture series, which explores tropical architecture and the concept of Tropical Tectonics in contemporary practice.
His contributions include pioneering buildable design strategies for schools in Singapore, earning the BCA Best Buildable Project award in 1995, and leading the conversion of Empress Place Building into the Asian Civilization Museum, which received the Architectural Heritage Award in 2003. Professor Cheah’s impact has been recognized with the university’s Outstanding Educator Award, highlighting his commitment to advancing architectural discourse and education in the tropics.