NUS Department of the Built Environment

The Department of the Built Environment is delighted to share that the dissertation work by Hiew Jia Yee, Joey Tan titled “Performance Degradation of Photovoltaic Systems on Vegetated and Concrete Roofs in a Tropical Climate” was selected for an oral presentation at the 54th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (IEEE PVSC) 2026 after a rigorous review by an international panel of expert reviewers. The panel of experts arrived at the decision based on the outstanding quality of the work. This research was conducted in collaboration with the KAJIMA Technical Research Institute Singapore (KaTRIS). The findings reveal that the co-location of PV and greenery reduces degradation across different PV technologies. Congratulations Joey!

Professor Lam Khee Poh has been named Global WELL Educator of the Year 2025 by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), one of theorganisation’s highest honours.The award recognises individuals whose work has significantly advanced education and leadership within the global WELL movement. His leadership has also contributed to key milestones at NUS and CDE, including SDE4 becoming the first building in Singapore to receive WELL certification and the first university building worldwide to attain this distinction.

In 2021, SDE4 also achieved the IWBI (WELL Health-Safety Rating), reflecting strong attention to operational excellence and preparedness in managing building health and safety, particularly in response to pandemic challenges.

Reflecting on the recognition, Prof Lam shared: “I am utterly humbled and deeply honoured to receive the Global WELL Educator Award 2025. It is an immensely fulfilling journey which started some four decades ago, working with PhD students on research and imparting newfound knowledge to generations of architecture and built environment students around the world.” This recognition marks a significant milestone in his continued efforts to integrate research, education, and real-world impact in shaping healthier and more sustainable built environments.

Read more: https://cde.nus.edu.sg/news/professor-lam-khee-poh-named-iwbi-global-well-educator-of-the-year-2025/

This award-winning poster, “Explainable AI for Urban Sustainability Trade-offs – A Singapore Case Study,” presents a Graph Neural Network (GNN) framework to analyze how urban morphology jointly influences environmental and societal performance in Singapore. By integrating spatial graph structures with explainable AI techniques, the study identifies key drivers—such as green plot ratio, building height, and density—that shape sustainability trade-offs. Using Pareto and “Super Node” analysis, the research reveals high-impact urban typologies and actionable optimization strategies. The findings provide interpretable, data-driven guidance for planners and policymakers to enhance environmental and societal outcomes and advance sustainable urban development.

Come visit us at our booth ( #6) to find out more about B.Eng. IPM, a unique interdisciplinary engineering undergraduate programme that integrates Engineering with Management, Finance, and Law in the context of the Built Environment.

Lead | Build | Manage

Lead and deliver complex projects successfully.

Build cities, infrastructure,
and systems that last.

Manage infrastructure and assets with appreciating value.

IPM equips you to lead projects from concept to delivery. Check out our link in bio or drop us an email at [email protected] to know more!

Save the date! Join Associate Professor Stephen Tay and our Year 2 Bachelor of Engineering (Infrastructure and Project Management) student Sean, to find out more about the Bachelor of Engineering (Infrastructure and Project Management) degree programme.

Take a peek at our Cat Therapy session!
Sometimes we need furry friends for some comfort and proper rest. Here are some of our students and faculty members enjoying a session by our DBE Wellness Team. From wellness initiatives to a supportive academic environment, we prioritize our people. Join a community that cares, become a part of the Department of the Built Environment.