NTU’s $125 Million Sustainable Wooden Building Has Signs of Moulding

Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) sustainable wooden building is being overrun.

No, I’m not referring to the furore over tourists visiting local universities. Mould is taking over NTU’s $125 million Gaia building, which opened last year.

Gaia is made almost entirely from mass timber. Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, Gaia is constructed by arranging engineered wood in layers and bonding them together with strong adhesives.

It was designed to connect people to natural surroundings but maybe the connection has grown too strong with the invasion of these uninvited visitors. Or perhaps Gaia is attempting to reclaim the building as hers?

Why is there a mould problem?

This is Singapore’s first timber building with a mould problem and experts have speculated that the growth of mould is the product of climate and wood type.

Gaia is built using a particular form of timber called Austrian spruce. Mr Andrew Wong of the International Wood Culture Society told Bloomberg that untreated spruce is particularly prone to mould and rot, especially in the tropics.

However, Mr Kevin Hill of Venturer Timberwork, noted that because this problem was not observed in other timber buildings, it may be premature to point to the type of food used.

Instead, he speculates that the delay caused by COVID may have caused introduction of mould spores, particularly when it was stored for long periods of time under damp conditions.

These spores may have been locked in after the wood was coated and prepared for construction.

NTU has since responded to allegations that the wood was the source of the issue. Associate Professors Tham and Okuda of NUS’ College of Design and Engineering have come to NTU’s defence and said that the MET used in Gaia’s construction did not contribute to the mould growth, as the timber meets certified regulatory standards and is treated with protective sealants

Instead, NTU has pointed to the fact that indoor air flow, air conditioning and humidity could contribute to the incidence of mould.

Is it still safe to study there?

NTU has assured the public that mould is a normal occurrence in “hot and humid” Singapore, and is unlikely to affect its structural integrity.

They will continue to “monitor the condition of our buildings and will take necessary measures to mitigate any issues accordingly”, in accordance with international best practices. This would include daily cleaning of areas prone to condensation, periodic maintenance of building surfaces, and mould remediation efforts.

Over the next few weeks, “rooms and spaces at Gaia that are affected by mould will undergo chemical cleaning, followed by mould testing, to ensure the mould is eradicated”, said NTU Chief Development & Facilities Management Officer, Mr Siew Hoong Kit.