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NUS Yusof Ishak House reopens as environmentally friendly hub for students to gather and collaborate
The Straits Times
|October 16, 2025
The National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Yusof Ishak House has been refreshed to become an environmentally friendly hub for students, after a three-year renovation.
Much of its original 1977 structure, including staircases and arched roofs, has been retained to preserve the building’s heritage, as well as to reduce the environmental costs and construction waste that would result from a full rebuild.
The university aims for it to be a net-zero energy building that better serves students’ needs, with multipurpose study spaces and new food options.
It reopened on Oct 15, with Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, alumnus of NUS Medicine and a former president of the NUS Students’ Union (Nussu), officiating the ceremony.
As a net-zero energy targeted building, Yusof Ishak House uses hybrid cooling systems comprising a mix of air-conditioning and ceiling fans. This provides 100 per cent fresh air while keeping indoor temperatures comfortable at around 26.5 deg C. Rooftop solar panels help supply energy.
This story is from the October 16, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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