BCA Academy
Owner: BCA Academy
Architect: ADDP Architects Pte Ltd
Landscape Architect/Designer: Plantwerkz Pte Ltd
Main Contractor: Dragages Singapore Pte Ltd
Year: 2022
LIAS Awards of Excellence 2025
Silver – Design & build (Non-Residential)
Located within the BCA Braddell Campus, the Built Environment Innovation Hub (BEIH) consists of two interconnected buildings: the 7-storey Zero Energy Building (ZEB) and the 16-storey Super Low Energy Building (SLEB).
Designed by ADDP Architects, the hub serves as a forward-looking ‘Academy’ that fosters innovation, collaboration, and knowledge transfer. Housing immersive laboratories such as the triple-volume Construction Production Lab equipped with gantry cranes for robot testing, as well as testing labs, offices, and discussion areas, BEIH showcases cutting-edge construction technologies.
The ZEB features a user-centric layout with open-air spaces, wide steps, and green passageways that seamlessly link the building with surrounding landscapes. Warm wooden elements and integrated planters enhance the biophilic environment, while the landscape design — characterized by curvilinear paths and lush, layered vegetation — creates a tranquil, immersive experience. This multifunctional terrace space offers students and visitors a peaceful retreat and reinforces BEIH’s role as an inspiring hub for learning and experimentation.
7th Storey Terrace
Inspired by the richness and diversity of tropical forests, the design integrates lush layers of vegetation, utilising a mix of plant textures, colours, and forms. The terrace serves as a multi-functional outdoor space, providing students and visitors a peaceful escape from the busy campus life. All plants are carefully selected and they are thriving well under the building shelter.
Curved pathways, inspired by natural trails through a forest, will meander through the terrace, allowing visitors to explore different zones of planting and immerse themselves in the lush greenery. Due to limited soil depth, raised concrete rings are employed to increase the required soil depth for tree growth. The general lush greenery is planted on the allowed 300mm soil depth.
5th Storey
Lush planting in varying shades of green, with red aglaonema accents, creates a vibrant sky terrace within shallow planters. Meandering paths which are wheelchair friendly allows easy access to the terrace garden.
Sky Terrace (3rd, 5th & 7th Storey)
A Green Curtain*, was created to serve as a vibrant green backdrop for the building's courtyard. A meandering footpath was created between the shrub planting to allow the maintenance crew to weave in and out of the lush planting.
* Originally designed as aluminium panels
Vertical Green Wall
The terrace gardens, 3rd to the 7th storey, are interconnected by climbers supported on stainless steel cables, replacing the aluminium façade. This creates a visually striking green wall that complements the building’s architecture, enhancing its appeal with a natural, organic aesthetic.
This lush, multi-layered sky terraces provide an inviting atmosphere for all who visit, fostering relaxation, connection with nature, and a sense of tranquility within the heart of the campus.
