SDE1 and SDE3, two redesigned and retrofitted NetZero energy buildings on the CDE campus, have won the Society of Façade Engineers (SFE) Design and Engineering 2024 Project of the Year –International Sustainability award.
The award was presented during a ceremony in London’s Old Billingsgate venue on 6 November 2024 with NUS Alum Victoria Thong (Bachelor of Architecture, Class of 2013) accepting the honour on behalf of the design team. The renovation project, titled An Equatorial School of Architecture, was also shortlisted in the award category: SFE Project of the Year - International Refurbishment.
Dean's Chair Associate Professor Erik L'Heureux FAIA (Dept of Architecture), lead designer of the project, said it was “deeply rewarding” to see the work recognised on the global stage. “On behalf of the entire design team which includes many DOA alum, we are delighted to receive this important design and engineering award,” he said.
Assoc Prof L'Heureux added: “The SDE1 and SDE3 redesign rethinks the value of adaptive reuse by investing in architecture to create beautiful and highly performative buildings. The façade is a unique example of years of research on "Deep Veils" that drives the sustainability of the entire project in a combination of poetry and performance, design and integration. The transformation of SDE1 and SDE3 offers an encapsulation of ideas that unify design, decarbonisation, and engineering.”
The SFE Design and Engineering Awards, which are blind peer-reviewed, recognise outstanding projects that demonstrate advanced design and engineering. In the award citation, the judges commented that SDE1 and SDE3 represent an "impressive utilisation of technology and environment to benefit users and reduce energy consumption."
Originally built in the 1970s, the renovated SDE1 and SDE3 buildings were formally launched in February 2023. Together with the neighbouring SDE4 building –- SDE1 and SDE3 form NUS' first building cluster targeting net-zero operational energy and super low embodied carbon.
An Equatorial School of Architecture (SDE1 & SDE3) project team:
Design Team:
Assoc Prof Ar. Erik G. L’Heureux, Bertrand Lasternas, Giovanni Cossu, Amanda Mo, Anirudh Chandar, Astrid Mayadinta, Azizul Izwan B. Roslan, Ar. Epiphanie Barli Lie, Harsh Vardhan, Iven Peh, Ar. Joel Tay, Ar. Krista Yeong, Lakshmi Menon, Lee Lip Jiang, Ng Sze Wee, Ong Chan Hao, Ar. Reuben Lim, Stephanie Kui Hui Guat, Zeno Lee, Zuliandi Azli, Zulkarnain M. Zin
Administrative Team
Prof Lam Khee Poh, Prof Heng Chye Kiang, Assoc Prof Nirmal Kishnani, Assoc Prof Wong Yunn Chii, Prof Ho Puay Peng, Koh Yan Leng, Teo Soon Piang Lincoln, Ar. Leong Mei Mei, Yong Loo Koh
Consultant Team:
CPG Consultants Pte Ltd, E2000 Pte Ltd, WSP Consultancy Pte Ltd, Transsolar Energietechnik GmbH, IEN Consultants, CCW Associate Pte Ltd, DP Green, Quants Associates
