Sustainable University campuses. Qualitative and quantitative approach through the scope of an undergraduate, elective architectural technology course

Abstract

Universities should promote sustainable development excellence not only through teaching and research but also via in campus operational management. This article presents the set-up, methodology and results of an undergraduate architectural technology course, which challenges the sustainable, bioclimatic and energy performance of buildings at NTUA Patission Campus. The course’s scope is to introduce different approaches so that students get acquainted with various research tools for the analysis of the sustainability indicators on campus and proposals for the sustainable design and redesign of university buildings and open spaces. The investigation and assessment of the existing condition was conducted with qualitative assessment and experimental quantitative methods for selected classrooms in different orientations at two adjacent buildings. Consequently, digital models of the classrooms under study were constructed with energy simulation software, in order to analyse the existing condition and assess the impact of simple interventions on the energy performance and bioclimatic conditions. The results involve the evaluation of the course set-up, but most importantly the structure of a methodology that could be applied not only to undergraduate student projects, but also to actual interventions to existing university buildings and campuses with similar characteristics in order to implement interdisciplinary methods that address environmental challenges.