Singapore’s Wooden Building of the Future Has a Mold Problem
Timber construction promises a greener future, but the technology must be adapted to various climates.
The Gaia building at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Source: Nanyang Technological University
When the Gaia building at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University opened last year, it was heralded as a revolutionary step toward a greener future. The massive structure—450,000 square feet—was constructed from sustainably harvested timber beams and panels. But these days, students and faculty are more focused on an unexpected downside: mold sprouting from all that wood. “It makes me feel a little grossed out,” says fourth-year student Grace Ng.
The problem highlights issues that can bedevil timber structures worldwide. While companies from Walmart Inc. to Microsoft Corp. have explored wood as a sustainable construction material, moldy timber in buildings has contributed to sickness, damage and legal battles from London to Melbourne.