Integrating Sustainable Design in Southwest Nigerian University Buildings to Mitigate Climate Change Impacts on Staff and Students

Abstract

The viability of life on earth is facing growing challenges as a result of climate change caused by human activities. As the effects of this climate change intensify, the university community faces increasing pressure to create resilient and sustainable environments for learning and work. However, universities worldwide are actively working to address climate change in order to reduce its impact on the university through sustainable design. Therefore, the integration of sustainable design principles in Nigerian university buildings becomes imperative. The study investigates the integration of sustainable design principles in university buildings across Southwest Nigeria, focusing on the current state of sustainable design, awareness level, barriers and mitigation strategies in these universities. A mixed-methods approach was employed in this study, combining physical building inspections, questionnaire administration, and interviews with key stakeholders, including architects, facility managers, and university administrators. Findings highlight critical deficiencies in current building practices and underscore the potential of sustainable design principles such as passive ventilation, solar energy systems, thermal insulation, and green landscape planning to improve indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency. The study concludes that adopting sustainable design in university architecture not only reduces environmental impact but also creates resilient, healthier learning environments, contributing to broader climate adaptation goals in the Southwest Nigerian universities.