After graduating with a Bachelor degree in Architecture from Melbourne University Mr Chua began his career by gaining extensive experience in hospital, university and other projects in Melbourne. He then joined Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) where he was involved in urban planning - particularly for the central city area and Orchard Road - during the late 1960's and 1970's.

Moving to the private sector he became involved during the 70's in a wide variety of large-scale architectural projects, including high and low -rise condominiums, conventional housing, hotels, offices and industrial premises. During this period he also contributed actively as a member of various committees of the Singapore Institute of Architects, including the committee in charge of the institute's journal, and committees on Metrication, Rumah Condominium, Practice and Residential Regrading.

Mr Chua also served for several years as a part-time lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic and as an external examiner for the Board of Architect's Professional Practice Examinations.

In 1978 he founded Chua Ka Seng Chartered Architects and subsequently guided the firm through its reorganization as Chua Ka Seng and Partners Chartered Architects in 1982. It was during that same year the firm was commissioned to work in association with I M Pei & Partners of New York on "The Gateway" in Singapore, a major twin-tower office complex of 130,000 m2.

During his three-decade career, Mr Chua accumulated vast experience in diverse aspects of architectural practice, from urban planning to bungalow design. A perfectionist, he is often personally involved in the details of work undertaken by the firm. He has a complete grasp of all facets of project development from preliminary site evaluation to conceptualization, planning and design, documentation, specification updating and contract management. His constant concern is the quality of the firm's output.

A special interest of his is landscaping, for he believes that no significant architectural project is complete without it. Because of this interest he has developed an in-depth knowledge of plants and other aspects of the indoor and outdoor environment.

Believing that the success of an architectural project requires the harmonizing of many factors, Mr Chua takes great pains to keep up to date with the principles of allied professions. His thirst for knowledge extends to the various branches of engineering, quantity surveying, landscaping, graphics, materials science, building technology - in fact anything and everything that may help shape a project into a total development.

Chua Ka Seng & Partners Chartered Architects © 1978 - 2004