College of Design and Engineering

Department of Architecture

BA (Arch) Course Level 3 AY 2024/25 Sem. 2

AR3722 Sustainable Environmental System
(Updated on 7 January 2025)
Faculty: EL: Siu-Kit (Eddie) LAU, 6516 3411, slau@nus.edu.sg

Lectures/Tutorials:
Environmental Systems Activities (Location)
Week #1 (13 January 2025, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm): LT2
Monday (12 noon – 2 pm), Groups 1 and 3 (Bi-weekly): Workshop (SDE3 DDL1 & 2)
Monday (2 am – 4 pm), Groups 2 and 4 (Bi-weekly): Workshop (SDE3 DDL1 & 2)
(Notes: Case studies and site visits are led by the students and may be planned on other
weekdays/weekends.)

Teaching Assistants: Lim En Qi, Nicole

Chai Ning
Teo Chee Kiat Sean
Teoh Feng Mei
Tan Chu Yi

Course Description:
This course aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of environmental systems
and their spatial requirements in architectural contexts. The course will address the rising need to
integrate building technologies within multidisciplinary projects in modern construction
environments. It will begin by focusing on the fundamental concepts of environmental systems (or
building services systems), including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and drainage. The
relationship between these systems, the building program, and broader built environments will also
be explored. Additionally, the course will cover important codes of practice like fire safety. The green
building movement will also be discussed, including renewable energy and water systems in
architecture. Furthermore, the course will provide knowledge on system schematics, space planning
(for building systems and equipment), and environmental systems applicable to design studios.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Illustrate the significance of building systems in architectural design.
• Choose appropriate building systems for the built environment.
• Analyse the space plan and network strategies of building systems for efficiency and safety.
• Evaluate the application of building systems in various building types.
• Integrate the knowledge gained through lectures and site visits into the design project
adequately and beneficially.

Student Responsibilities:
Online Lecture Activities and Quiz
It is mandatory for students to participate in the online lectures and complete the associated
activities on a weekly basis. Students are advised to log in to the online platform, review the
lectures individually and answer all the in-video questions. For the system to accurately identify
the student's participation in the online activities, they must use their own login credentials.

4 Architecture Drive, Singapore 117566

Tel: (65) 6516 3411 Fax: (65) 6779 3078
Website: www.nus.edu.sg
Company Registration No: 200604346E
 In-class Workshop Activity
Please refer to the brief for the Design Charette.

Integrated Design
Students must individually proceed with system integration and detail design in a space. This
assignment hopes to go from schematic system design to detailed system design.

Self-Reflection and Peer Evaluation

A two-page (excluding figures, tables and illustrations) self-reflection on learning is required.
Some examples of question prompts may include:
• What was the most important concept(s) that you learned from the course?
• What are the key learning points from activities/ lectures/ Discussions?
• What was/were the “muddiest” point(s) in the courses?
• Reflect on what you have learned for activities/ lectures/discussions.

Peer Evaluation of Group Works

• Each individual student will submit an evaluation for all other group members to
Teammates.

Student-Generated Questions
To encourage students to think deeper about the topics being covered, they are required to complete
the following tasks weekly:
• Generate at least one question for each topic by Friday after the Monday class, using the
Canvas platform.
• Attempt to receive responses to the proposed questions from a designated chatbot
(Screenshot the responses from chatbots and attach them to the submission).
• Comment on the responses provided by the Chatbot.
• Provide improved responses and corresponding reference sources for the questions
where possible.

These tasks are designed to challenge students to think critically about the topics being covered and
to engage meaningfully with the course material.

Grading Policies:

Individual Works:
Online Lecture Activities (Environmental System) 5%
Integrated Design (Environmental System) 20%
Self-Reflection on Sustainable Buildings and Environment Systems 15%
Peer Evaluation of Group Contributions 10%
Group Works:
In-class Workshop Activity (Environmental Systems) 30%
Student Generated Questions 20%
Total 100%

Notes: Inactive participation in discussion during lectures/seminars/site visits may be evaluated

as a deduction of points.

2
Course Schedule (Lecture / Seminar / Visit):

Week Date Content Lecturer

1 13/01 L1: Introduction and Briefing EL
(LT2, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pam)
2 20/01 W1: Water System (Plumbing and Drainage) (Groups 1 and 2) EL
3 27/01 W1: Water System (Plumbing and Drainage) (Groups 3 and 4) EL
4 03/02 W2: Thermal and HVAC System (Groups 1 and 2) EL
5 10/02 W2: Thermal and HVAC System (Groups 3 and 4) EL
6 17/02 W3: Fire Safety System (Groups 1 and 2) EL
24/02 Recess Week
7 03/03 W3: Fire Safety System (Groups 3 and 4) EL
8 10/03 W4: Electrical System (Groups 1 and 2) EL
9 17/03 W4: Electrical System (Groups 3 and 4) EL
10 24/03 AR3722 Lecture: Passive Design for Thermal Comfort EL
11 31/03 AR3722 Lecture: Green Buildings EL
12 07/04 Consultation by appointments EL

References:
Building Services Systems
Grondzik, W. T. (2010). Mechanical and electrical equipment for buildings (11th ed.). Hoboken, N.J:
Wiley.
Chadderton, D. V. (2007). Building services engineering (5th ed.). London;New York;: Taylor &
Francis.
Hawkins, G. (2011). Rules of thumb: guidelines for building services (5th ed. Vol. BG 9/2011.;BG
9/2011;). Bracknell [England]: BSRIA.
Wujek, J. B., & Dagostino, F. R. (2010). Mechanical and electrical systems in architecture,
engineering, and construction (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Education.
Ching, F. (2008). Building construction illustrated (4th ed.). Hoboken: J.Wiley & Sons.
Hall, F., & Greeno, R. (2005). Building services handbook (3rd ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Ching, F., Winkel, S. R., & International Code, C. (2009). Building codes illustrated: a guide to
understanding the 2009 international building code (3rd ed.). Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley &
Sons.

Fire Safety
SCDF. (2013). Fire Code. Singapore: Singapore Civil Defence Force Retrieved from
https://www.scdf.gov.sg/home/fire-safety/downloads/acts-codes-regulations/fire-code-2013.

Heating, Ventilating, and Air-conditioning (HVAC)

Bleicher, D., De Saulles, T., & Chartered Institution of Building Services, E. (2012). The illustrated
guide to mechanical building services (2nd ed. Vol. BG 31/2012.). Bracknell, Berkshire:
BSRIA.

Electrical Services
Tse, P., Bleicher, D., Building Services, R., & Information, A. (2014). The illustrated guide to
electrical building services (3rd ed. Vol. BG 32/2014.;BG 32/2014;). Bracknell: BSRIA.