UTAR celebrated a milestone at the ARCHITALENT 2025 (finals) on 24 July 2025. For the first time in the competition’s history, UTAR secured two spots among the elite top finalists, showcasing exceptional talent at the Architect Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) level architecture competition.
From left: Wong, Mr Abd Muluk and Cho
The competition, themed RE: PLACE, was organised by ARCHIDEX and Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM). It challenged participants to rethink urban spaces by integrating local wisdom and fostering regenerative futures. The competition received a total of 75 submissions from across 23 ARCASIA member countries. UTAR’s Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science (LKC FES) students Cho Chi Kei and Wong Yun Ros from the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Architecture programme, emerged as standout finalists.
ARCHITALENT 2025 finalists and judges
Cho secured First Runner-Up for her project, Re:Gen from Waste to Wonders, Training Future Green Innovators. She also took home the Best Presenter Award. Her visionary proposal transformed urban waste challenges into opportunities, creating a hub for training green innovators and embodying the competition’s call for regenerative solutions. She walked away with a certificate, medal and cash prize.
Wong, on the other hand, earned the finalist title with her project titled Heritage Recrafted; Wood Carving Training Centre in Kampong Bharu, which preserved Kampong Bharu’s cultural heritage through a centre dedicated to traditional wood carving, acting as a catalyst for cultural regeneration and community engagement. She walked away with a certificate.
This dual success underscores the high calibre of mentorship at LKC FES. Both students were supervised by Mr Abd Muluk bin Abd Manan, with co-supervisors Ar Chow Boon Kit and Mr Yap Kee Leong.
ARCHITALENT 2025 served as a vital platform for aspiring architects across Asia to challenge conventions and propose meaningful responses to urban and social issues. The finals at MITEC Kuala Lumpur was not just a competition but a celebration of youthful aspiration, regional collaboration, and a shared vision for creating resilient, culturally rich, and ecologically intelligent built environments. UTAR’s achievement demonstrates its commitment to excellence in architectural education and its ability to produce graduates ready to shape the future of sustainable and meaningful design.
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