UTAR Perak Campus magnetizes NUS visitors

UTAR Perak Campus, being an award-winning campus after receiving the 'Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia' (PAM) Gold Award 2013 for the education category in May this year, has attracted visitors not only from all over the country but also those from across the causeway, Singapore. This was evident when 41 architectural students from the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore (NUS) made their way to visit the scenic campus on 27 September 2013.

The group from NUS, led by Assoc Prof Cheah Kok Ming, Assoc Prof Tse Swee Ling, and Dr Abel Tablada, was accompanied by Head of Department of UTAR Department of Architecture & Sustainable Design Dr Lim Poh Im, several faculty members and The Architectural Network (tAN) founding principal architect Ar Chow Yeut Keong. They were cordially welcomed by Director of the Division of Community and International Networking Dr Tan Sin Leng, who happily shared an overview of UTAR and its six-year-old Perak Campus with the first-time visitors.

Dr Tan welcoming the visitors

When asked to share some thoughts about the avant-garde architectures at Perak Campus, Cheah told, "I was one of the jury members who was privileged to study the plans and examine the design idea of this campus. I was truly impressed by it and that made me want to bring my architectural students here to experience the actual learning environment."

Cheah sharing his sentiments

"All buildings here, the library, the faculty buildings and others, are of modern contemporary architecture. The Grand Hall which was built at the second phase is an exception," said Ar Chow, who was referring to the stately Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, and also explained that the hall was designed to look iconic and at the same, able to reflect the identity of the University.

Ar Chow explaining the concept behind his architecture design

The ingenious architect then led the visitors on a guided campus tour, where he shared with the lecturers and 41 budding architects the inspiration behind his award winning designs and the functions of certain sustainable building features.

The visitors being led by Ar Chow on a campus tour

NUS Architecture students admiring the view of Dewan Tun Dr Ling and other buildings at Phase 2 from the library

Student Thilaiga Ramakrishnan who has a liking for the remarkable architecture of Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and the library, remarked that UTAR Perak Campus is a pleasant and environmental friendly campus. Her remarks were also echoed by her friends during the tour.

The visitors posing for a group photo at Dewan Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik