Wellness and Us in times of Pandemics and Beyond &

Evolution of Singapore Healthcare Architecture and the Future of Healthcare Design

When: Wednesday, July 29th, 12:00 am (Eastern US time) / 12:00 pm (Singapore time)

CES credits: 1.0 LU

Presenters:

Yew Kee Cheong, AIA, MSIA (session 1)

Khai Toh, NCARB, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C (session 2)

Session 1 - Wellness and Us in times of Pandemics and Beyond

As social creatures, we need each other. Central is how our architecture responds to pandemics and beyond, with focus on the health, safety and experience. With Circuit Breaker enforced and then lifted in phases, the present live-work-play paradigm refocuses to where we need to be, i.e. our homes. Our wellness is impacted. Wellness at different scales, WHO Readiness Framework and Biophilic Design with references to the revised 2020 WELL standard are shared. Through a highly visual presentation, the talk aims to offer insights to engage rather than to prescribe solutions.

Session 2 - Evolution of Singapore Healthcare Architecture and the Future of Healthcare Design The purpose of this sharing session is to give AIA IR members an insight into the evolution of Healthcare Architecture in Singapore (from the 1800s to the present) and a glimpse into the future of Healthcare Design processes to come.

Yew Kee Cheong is an architect with more than 28 years of professional experience as an architect and educator, with passion in sustainable design, biophilic design and wellness. He is the Treasurer for the American Institute of Architects International Region. As an AIA IR Director, Yew Kee led and organized successfully the AIA IR 2018 Conference in Singapore.

He received his Master of Science in Sustainable Design from University of Nottingham, UK and Master of Architecture from University of Texas in Austin, USA. He worked in reputable firms in USA, Mexico and Singapore with projects over eight countries. Yew Kee is a licensed architect both in Texas and in Singapore.  He is the Founding Principal of 2B ARCHITECTS.

Yew Kee is a Council Member of Singapore Institute of Architects and is the Committee Chair for SIA Design Competition and for SIA Sustainability (Founding Chair). He serves on institutes council, sits on advisory committee of statutory boards, mentor students in university, speaks in public forum and acts as juror for design awards. In 2013, Yew Kee received the Singapore Ministry of National Development Medallion for Distinguished Service. 

Khai Toh is a returnee to Singapore after a 25 years stint in the US. – (from 1990 to 2015).

With a Bachelor of Arts in interior design from Harrington Institute of Interior Design -Chicago, and a Masters in Architecture and Urban Planning from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Khai operates at the scale of interiors to architectural and urban design concurrently.

 Architectural typologies worked on include research laboratories, in-patient and outpatient healthcare facilities, dementia friendly environment, Mixed-Used Development, Corporate headquarters, Class A Corporate offices, Federal courthouses et al.

 In 2010, Khai was a speaker at "Hospital Build Asia, Exhibition and Congress 2010". An international healthcare conference held at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, on the topic of "Improving Women's Health - The New Women's Prentice Hospital, Chicago". He was also interviewed and quoted in the August 2010 issue of the Medical Tribune on the topic of green hospitals in Asia.

 In addition to professional practice, Khai served as an adjunct faculty member at Harrington College of Design, Chicago. He was a frequent guest lecturer, a critic, and a thesis advisor for both the masters and undergraduate degree program, in addition to serving as a guest critic at the renowned Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

 As a student in Chicago in early 1990s, Khai was a recipient of annual design awards from the American Institute of Architects consecutively over 3 years period, in addition to other awards from IBD and ASID. The consistency continued into the professional career to date. Throughout, he has always been an active member of larger collaboration in executing award winning competitions and projects. And, in some instances, served as the lead designer on some of the winning entries.