“Green Building” and “Chulalongkorn’s Newly-Developed Buildings with Sustainability”

Policy and Operation

The Chulalongkorn University premises cover an expansive area of land. The Property Management Office is responsible for land development. It is committed to sustainable and environmentally-friendly development with regard to ever-changing global contexts, particularly climate change. Since all human activity can affect the global climate, any physical makeovers in the university area can in some way contribute to climate change.

Covering more than 1,153 rai, the university premises accommodate no fewer than 200 buildings used as faculty administration offices, classrooms and facilities. Each day these buildings and facilities use a lot of energy, and maintenance costs are high.

To minimize negative effects from resource consumption, the university is focusing on smart building management and renovation programmes, applying Green Building concepts, using sophisticated, energy-efficient air-conditioning and Low-E glass panels on exterior walls to deflect heat, and recycling building materials, greatly reducing energy consumption in many building and renovation projects.

Chulalongkorn has a large number of commercial areas that play a crucial role in transforming the university’s landscape into one of sustainable urbanization. New building projects implemented by the PMCU must comply with a policy framework that determines design, construction and supervision. New building projects must be accredited by a recognized institution, such as Thailand’s Rating of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (TREES).

During works, the project manager and design engineer consult with specialists to meet minimum energy-saving requirements. A project must pass an environmental and energy sustainability assessment, which in turn must be approved by the Thai Green Building Institute. To pass the assessment, those responsible for the work need to provide details such as size of the project area, a construction plan, and methods for TREES so that TREES specialists can inspect and assess the project throughout construction. Furthermore, the university needs to train personnel who will use the building. Some projects are to be soon completed, including the Siamscape, a mixed-use commercial building in Siam Square. In service are the residence buildings for Chulalongkorn students and university staff. Block 33, a residential project developed with the Residential and Wellness concept, located next to the 100-Year Chulalongkorn Park, is under construction. Projects built to sustainable standards have been included in the university’s master development plans for Suan Luang-Samyan Commercial Area, National Stadium Area and In-Campus Premises.

In all building development projects, universal design is primarily applied. Building law stipulates that a building must provide facilities for the disabled including ramp, lift, toilets and standard wayfinding system outside. The building must be accessible to all users regardless of age, size, ability, disability and status.

Office of Property Management, Chulalongkorn University
Office of Physical Resources Management, Chulalongkorn University