Welcome to Gaia, the new home of the Nanyang Business School. We ask two student influencers from the school to show us their favourite spots in Asia’s largest wooden building
by Derek Rodriguez / Photos by Don Tan, Tan Hui Qin and Eileen Tan
Videos by Rahila Daud / Animation by Vivian Lim
Rewind back to August 2018. NTU had just unveiled its most ambitious sustainable construction yet – codenamed Academic Building South. We saw the artist’s impressions and read the specs. We knew it was big and bold. And now, we know it is beautiful.
Of course, it’s hardly been a secret. You’ve seen it from the outside as it has taken shape. You might even have voted when we polled for a name for the building. Recently, you’ve seen it from the inside too as you walked through it to get from The Hive to the (similarly wood-themed) bus stop. But oh boy, you’ve seen nothing yet.
TIMBER ANATOMY
Gaia, named after the Greek goddess of the Earth, is the largest building made from mass-engineered timber in Asia, and the second such building on campus after The Wave, NTU’s sports complex. Gaia’s timber composition and how it was fabricated give it a much lower carbon footprint than traditional concrete buildings.
A HINT OF HISTORY
Gaia stands on the site of the former Innovation Centre. But not all is lost because as a sustainable university, we have salvaged some of its bricks and used them in creating many of the walls here. In a retro nod to Gaia’s past, the exposed bricks make a great backdrop for an #ootd shot.
WOOD YOU LIKE SOME CONVENIENCE?
Not to throw shade at Yunnan Garden but commuting to NTU is a little more exciting and comfortable with this new bus stop replacing the one at Yunnan Garden. Dressed in similar au naturel wood, it also offers a direct covered route to the South Spine and The Hive.
STEP INTO SCANDINAVIA
Stretching from the first to the third storeys, and overlooking an outdoor amphitheatre, the bespoke grand staircase will leave you breathless for the right reasons. Its extravagant presence takes you a lot further than the next floor. Pause here for a moment and you might even feel like you’re at a Scandinavian ski lodge, no cap.
“Gaia has such a beautiful and timeless architecture that exudes a serene, natural atmosphere. I can already imagine our fellow NTU students creating a lot of memorable experiences here! The brilliantly designed facilities are a testament to NTU’s dedication to delivering a world-class education.”
– Final-year business student Chang Jit Wei (above)
PICTURE YOURSELF HERE
Here’s an Instagrammable nook that overlooks the Yunnan Garden. Designed by a team of architects that includes Japanese maestro Toyo Ito, Gaia is full of spots like this one that bring the outside inside.
FIRST CLASS FACILITIES
If you’re a business school student, lucky you. From next semester, classrooms like this one are where you’ll be ensconced – for interactive lessons and even log cabin-style fireside chats. Gaia is equipped with a 190-seat auditorium, 12 lecture theatres, 15 seminar rooms, five meeting rooms and more than 70 small study rooms. Just try not to get distracted by the killer views on offer.
“I’m sure the new building will be adored by many. Its architectural design highlights the use of natural light, creating an almost Bali resort-esque feel that could offer a much-needed escape from the daily school grind. I especially love the rooftop view overlooking The Hive and I highly recommend taking a few snaps up there! We are really fortunate to have this impressive building at the heart of our campus.”
– Final-year business student Hailey Teo (above)
FRIEND ZONE
Friendships are what uni life is about and informal spaces like this are perfect for BFFs Hailey and Jit Wei, who have been pals since their junior college days, to catch up between classes. We hear this might be the site of a café in the future too.
LIQUID ASSETS
Enveloped in what sounds like a burbling brook here, it literally feels like spring break. When those precious cool nights arrive, this is where you want to be – under the stars, surrounded by friends, and perhaps with a live performance in front of you.
SQUAD GOALS
With 68 breakout rooms in the building, there’s always a comfortable space for group projects, consultation with profs, or a study session with friends. Here’s an early tip from us: Find one with a view of Yunnan Garden for a generous dose of natural light and lush views.
VIEWFINDER
Outdoor terraces on this six-storey building provide breathtaking angles of the hood. On one end, you’ll find The Hive, and on the other, panoramic views beyond the campus edge. Take in the sights yourself when Gaia opens, and see which you prefer.
DOWN TO EARTH
Gaia’s eco Scandi-style minimalism runs in every corridor, on every floor. Extensive open areas, terraces and air wells ventilate the building naturally. Energy-saving devices like LED lights, high-efficiency aircon chillers and heat-deflecting glass also help make Gaia the eighth building on campus, and one of only 16 in Singapore, to nab the Green Mark Platinum Zero Energy award, certifying that it consumes only as much energy as it produces.
This story was published in the Mar-Apr 2023 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
