Evaluation of the Building Performance and Environmental Sustainability Principles of University Buildings in South-East Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the extent to which functional and environmental measures/indicators are expressed in the performance of Educational buildings in Universities of South East Nigeria viz: (Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, (UNIZIK), Federal University of Owerri, (FUTO), University of Nigeria Nsukka, (UNN), Federal University of Agriculture, UMUDIKE, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, (AE FUNAI)  and recommend measures for improved understanding and practice. Literature review was used to provide a clear understanding of the constructs of functionality and environmental performance in buildings. A questionnaire relating to the diverse contents of these constructs was developed and administered to a convenient sample of staff and students of some Federal universities under investigation. Data generated from the questionnaire were analysed using tables. The study suggests that majority of the respondents (staff and students) were generally displeased with the functional and environmental performance of their building facilities. Information about the design and use of specific buildings were inaccurate and therefore not usually identified in the institutions studied. The functionality and environmental concerns of most of the building spaces such as classrooms, offices and residential accommodations were found to be poor. Hence, the interaction between users and building spaces did not add value to learning and working experiences. The findings point to the conclusion that functional efficiency and environmental performance goals seem not have been explicitly expressed in the design of most buildings investigated. The study points to the need for designers and facilities managers in these institutions to acquire skills on critical aspects of building performance evaluation, particularly, the recognition of environmental and functional concerns/indicators as means of meeting the increasing demand for higher quality by stakeholders in the education sector.