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Remembering Bukit Timah Campus

Alumni from the NUS Faculty of Law reflect on their time at BTC.

22 Jan 2025
By the NUS Faculty of Law
6 min read

The iconic Bukit Timah Campus (BTC) holds precious memories for so many of us who called this place home during our law school years. As we prepare to move out of this campus sometime in 2025, we pause to remember some of the special moments experienced here. Heartiest thanks to all alumni who contributed to this walk down memory lane.

EU TONG SEN BUILDING & FEDERAL BUILDING 

The official entrance to the law school, the historic Eu Tong Sen Building (pictured above) is often the first glimpse that visitors get of NUS Law. Together with the Federal Building, these are two of the six buildings on campus that have been gazetted as National Monuments, and they currently house administrative offices on the first floor and academic offices on level two. With their distinctive orange pitched roofs, covered walkways and wide arches, these graceful colonial buildings have become synonymous with the law school and the backdrop of countless photos over the years.

“This photo was taken by my father in December 2014 when my parents were visiting me from India. I recall the feeling of pride as I showed them around my campus – like an ambassador of sorts! To this day, I proudly share that I am a graduate of NUS Law wherever I go.” -Chetna Agnihotri (LLM ’15)
“We celebrated each other’s birthdays throughout our years in law school, with this shot taken in September 2014 capturing the Federal Building in the background.” -Janessa Sit Mei Hui (Law ’18), middle, pictured with her friends from the Class of 2018, (from left) Elaine Ong, Janelle Ng, Natalie Lim, Cheryl Lim, Rebecca Koh and Chelsea Chan

UPPER QUADRANGLE


Senior alumni share that the Upper Quad was a place where students frequently gathered to relax, chat and even debate the issues of the day in between classes, as well as for sports and games. Today, this picturesque courtyard of lush green turf continues to be a hive of activity where the outdoor fun happens – football matches, Captain’s ball and frisbee tournaments, orientation activities, student concerts, graduation photographs and much more!

“The Upper Quad was the site of many games, including our Inter-year Ultimate Frisbee tournament held in 2010.” -Jonathan Kao (Law ’10)
“Students versus Faculty members in a game of Captain’s Ball in 2009 – featuring Professors Kumaralingam Amirthalingam on the left, and Arun Thiruvengadam on the right” - Jonathan Kao (Law ’10)
“It might have been late, but spirits were high at the Freshman Orientation Camp in 2007.” -Jonathan Kao (Law ’10)
“Age was no barrier to fun and games, as we posed in front of a bouncy castle at a Block B party organised by the Law Students’ International Relations Committee in September 2014.” -Janessa Sit Mei Hui (Law’18)

BLOCK B

Housing the auditorium, lecture theatre, classrooms and seminar rooms, student lounge, Summit canteen and more, Block B is the heart of the law school and where it all happens for our students. Over the years, it has also become a research hub as many of our centres are located here, including the EW Barker Centre for Law & Business, Centre for Asian Legal Studies, Centre for Maritime Law and Centre for Banking and Finance Law.

“The Class of 2010 in the Auditorium during a rehearsal for Law IV - an NUS Law tradition that involves the graduating class writing, directing and staging a full dramatic piece.” Jonathan Kao (Law ’10)
“It was a night to remember for the cast of LAW IV 2018: Valediction, with this shot taken on the closing night of the musical.” -Janessa Sit Mei Hui (Law ’18)
“A photo with Professor Kevin Tan at Seminar Room 4-4 to mark our last Singapore Law in Context seminar in Year 1!” -Janessa Sit Mei Hui (Law ’18)
"This was taken outside the Summit canteen after a chat with Professor Andrew Simester, who was my PhD supervisor. My wife Aimpaga Techaapikun (a fellow at the Asian Law Institute) and I were so happy to be a part of this beautiful campus.” -Ronnakorn Bunmee (Law PhD ’23)
“The BTC gym may be small, but it was perfect for me. It was where I’d unwind after classes or before heading home, and the pull-up bar was always my favourite. Just me, that rusty old bar, and countless reps—it was simple, quiet, and exactly what I needed. I’ll miss it.” -Eugene Tai Yun Heng (Law ’21)
“After classes in the day, we sometimes gathered for bonding sessions. Here is a group of us at an impromptu late-night gathering next to the Summit canteen and the Co-Op in 2009.” -Jonathan Kao (Law ’10)

LOWER QUADRANGLE & CJ KOH LAW LIBRARY

 Although mostly surrounded by buildings that house the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, the smaller Lower Quad with its majestic angsana tree still holds a special place in the hearts of law students who stroll past regularly on the way to the CJ Koh Law Library and enjoy hanging out at study tables that line the courtyard.

“To commemorate our time at BTC, my friends and I posed for graduation photos at the Lower Quad back in 2016.” -Louis Lim (Law ’17), extreme right
“This photo was taken at the Lower Quad in 2019 with some of my closest friends from law school. We celebrated many birthdays together throughout our four years at BTC. Even though we’ve moved on to legal practice and many in the group are now married, we are still in touch and continue the tradition of yearly birthday celebrations as a group.” -Keith Wong (Law ’21), holding the cake
"The memories held by the walls of BTC are likely more than our brains can possibly retain: from the day we first met outside the un-air-conditioned canteen on a sweltering hot afternoon, to late-night study sessions and tear-filled quarrels (triggered by the other's obstinacy or the overwhelming stress of law modules – will we ever really know?). Having been brought together by this Faculty on these premises is something we will always be grateful for." -Sherlyn Lim (Law ’21) & Nigel Cheong (Law ’22), on the Lower Quad, with the CJ Koh Library in the background

Share Your Memories!

 If you studied at BTC and would like to share your own favourite law school memories and photos, we still want to hear from you! All submissions would be deeply appreciated, and may be used for various platforms, including our publications, social media and farewell events. Submit your photos with captions and/or stories to lawlink@nus.edu.sg with your name and graduation year.

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