Our Vision
At the Department of Building our vision is to be an academic centre of excellence for the creation and application of knowledge in science, technology and management in the building design and construction processes. We will focus on issues relevant to our region and the tropical environment, which will be our core strength as we tap the knowledge and experience gained from working in this context. This will remain our niche domain in the global setting.
To realise this vision, we will need to foster a creative, innovative and intellectually vibrant environment with a global outlook, with the aim of establishing academic and professional excellence in building and construction.
Research Strengths
The Department of Building has achieved international recognition for its core competencies in Total Building Performance and Construction Management and Economics. It has established strategic links with world-class institutions with whom we are actively engaged in relevant cutting-edge research. Particular emphasis is directed towards the development and delivery of integrated and high performance buildings throughout the entire building delivery process involving design, construction, maintenance and management.
Strategic Thrusts
Singapore, and indeed, the whole world, is entering a period of great opportunities as well as challenges. In this new millennium, the factors that influence the well being of individuals, organisations and nations will be rapidly changing. Success will depend on the possession of cutting-edge knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge in an innovative and productive manner. Creativity and entrepreneurship will be the major traits of those who will thrive in this environment. In order to foster such qualities and abilities in our graduates, there has been a paradigm shift, from teaching to learning, in the delivery of education in the University. The student must not merely be a passive recipient of information but is expected to be proactive in contributing to the extension of the knowledge domain and its application, under the guidance of the academic tutors and mentors.
In anticipation of the challenges of the future, a blueprint for developing Singapore’s construction industry has been prepared. The Construction 21 (C21) report has the vision of Singapore becoming a world-class builder in the knowledge age. Strategic thrusts have been formulated to make the industry productive, progressive and professional. The industry will be operating on a much higher plane than before. It will be adding value to clients’ projects, creating wealth for the nation, and improving the quality of life of the people.
Our strategies are also in line with the Construction 21 vision. We believe that buildings that are well designed, well constructed and well managed are important assets of
The key operational principle underpinning all our academic efforts is "integration". Information technology tools will be developed and pervasively deployed to facilitate the integrated approach in design and construction. Achieving our vision depends largely on the people involved, including both academic and administrative staff and our students. We believe that staff must be more than just purveyors of information. They must be motivators and mentors, and through their own academic passion and achievements inspire future generations of students to constantly strive to expand the knowledge frontier. Another strategic thrust is to establish significant and high impact collaborative research with local industry as well as international institutions and organisations. This will facilitate a healthy exchange of ideas and ensure that our academic output remains useful and relevant to practice.