School Building Design Research Articles

Orientational Features of School Buildings in Iran by Cardinal Directions in Terms of Their Energy Efficiency

This article examines the orientation of school buildings in Iran from an energy efficiency perspective. It analyzes traditional approaches to building orientation in Iran, considering their impact on energy consumption, and provides examples of contemporary international approaches to this issue. The study evaluates the climatic characteristics of Iran's four main zones to determine the optimal orientation and length of school buildings in each region. Special attention is given to the heating requirements of the buildings and the identification of the most efficient building forms for each climate zone. The influence of solar radiation intensity on the architecture of school buildings and their spaces is also analyzed to optimize the use of natural energy and enhance energy efficiency. Using the example of schools in the cold climate of Iran, particularly in the city of Tabriz, the article calculates the amount of solar energy reaching both the courtyards and the indoor learning spaces. The study emphasizes the importance of energy efficiency based on climatic conditions and proposes architectural design solutions that promote energy conservation in school buildings. Additionally, it explores how integrating these design principles can lead to more sustainable and climate-adapted educational spaces. Energy efficiency in architectural design, based on climatic resources, is one of the key scientific challenges of modern times. The climatic diversity of Iran has contributed to the development of climate classifications that have long been used to harmonize with architectural design principles, minimizing energy losses. As society has developed, the size of school buildings has increased, and consequently, the demand for heating and energy resources has grown. The use of new materials and modern construction technologies has introduced additional challenges. Effective architectural design of school buildings for energy optimization requires a deep understanding of traditional design methods, regional climatic conditions, and expertise in energy conservation. Without analyzing these factors, it is impossible to develop effective solutions.

Evaluasi Desain Struktur Gedung Pondok Pesantren At-Tibyan Deli Serdang

The structural design of this three-story Islamic boarding school building, the results obtained after analysis include; risk category II so that the earthquake priority factor is 1. The soil site class is soft soil. In the structural system, it is designed using a special moment resisting frame system (SRPMK). The seismic design category obtained is category D. Seismic inspection starting from checking irregularities, diaphragm design, checking the number of structural vibration variations, determining the fundamental period of the structure, seismic response coefficient values, seismic base shear, checking the deviation between floors is carried out based on SNI 1726-2019. for column elements, beams and also plates in existing conditions after analysis have met the requirements based on SNI 2847-2019. The conclusion in this final project research is based on the results of the analysis that the design of the Attybian Islamic boarding school building still meets the requirements based on SNI 1726-2019 concerning procedures for earthquake resistance planning for buildings and non-buildings and also for beam, column and plate elements have met the requirements based on SNI 2847-2019 concerning reinforced concrete structures. However, for the beam elements for the reinforcement requirements, it is still too wasteful so that in this analysis, the amount of reinforcement is reduced because in the planning principle it must be safe and economical.

Seismic Risk Assessment in School Buildings: A Comparative Study of Two Assessment Methods

Seismic risk assessment in school buildings is critical for ensuring the safety and resilience of educational institutions against seismic events. This paper presents a new seismic risk methodology named MM Risk and comparative study with Adriseismic methodology used for seismic risk assessment. The study aims to provide insights into the effectiveness and reliability of these methods in evaluating the seismic vulnerability of school buildings. Through a comprehensive review of the existing literature and application on a dataset of 213 schools (367 buildings), this paper evaluates the strengths and limitations of each method in terms of accuracy, complexity, and practical applicability. The results show that by integrating the approach of Adriseismic methodology and incorporating extensions related to irregularities, the social risk component (number of users), and the ability to assess different types of structures, a comprehensive and tailored methodology for assessing seismic risk can be developed. This is important since these factors are strongly influencing the seismic risk of schools as connected systems. Furthermore, this paper explores the implications of these findings for improving seismic risk mitigation strategies in school buildings. MM Risk methodology places over 70% of school buildings in the medium seismic risk category and 27% in the high seismic risk category. On the other hand, the Adriseismic methodology is more stringent, classifying 60% of school buildings into high and very-high risk categories. This disparity undoubtedly influences the prioritization list for seismic risk mitigation measures. However, definitely the comparative analysis presented in this paper offers valuable guidance for engineers, policymakers, and stakeholders involved in the seismic retrofitting and design of school buildings, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of seismic resilience in educational infrastructure.

FEATURES OF ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF GENERAL EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE HISTORICAL EXAMPLE OF GERMAN ARCHITECTURE

Throughout his life, a person goes through a long and thorny path, forming skills, and discovering consciousness. With the temporary human need for education in educational institutions, however, it should be noted that people have knowledge and awareness and education in educational institutions, at the expense of individual education. In this article, we analyzed how the social aspect influenced the architectural planning methods of comprehensive schools in 19th-century Germany. The main reason for the emergence of international school standards was the new initiatives in the design of school buildings that began in the 19th century. In the article, we determined the theoretical model of school buildings, taking into account the features of each period.

THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT FACTORS ON THE FORMATION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL ENVIRONMENT OF EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS IN IRAN

The article highlights a comprehensive approach to the architectural design of school buildings in Iran, with an emphasis on the climatic features of cold and humid regions. Special attention is paid to temperate and cold humid zones located mainly in the north and west of the country, including the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountain range. The focus of the research is the analysis of architectural features adapted to the specifics of the climate of these regions, such as the orientation of the building, air conditioning systems, classroom lighting, the use of vegetation to create shading, as well as the features of the form, interior design and choice of materials. Particular attention is paid to the energy efficiency of school buildings, as schools are significant consumers of energy, including electricity, water and gas. Architectural solutions based on a deep understanding of climatic conditions can significantly improve the energy efficiency of schools, reduce fuel consumption and contribute to the creation of a comfortable and healthy learning environment. The article emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach to architectural design, which takes into account climatic features to increase energy efficiency and create optimal conditions for learning and development of students in schools in cold and humid regions of Iran.

Sustainable construction of green school building using energy simulation analysis and modeling

The aim of this research is to manage energy efficiency in the design of green school buildings in order to create an optimal educational environment and sustainable architecture. The research method is quantitative and a simulation calculation. For this purpose, Ecotect 2021 software is used for modeling and Revit 2021 and DesignBuilder software for analyzing the results. The case study of this research is the schools built by the School Renovation Organization of East Azarbaijan Province, Tabriz City, based on the cold climate type plan. On this basis, a school designed and implemented by the School Renovation Organization of East Azarbaijan Province was selected based on a non-random purposive sample. The model is implemented in Revit simulation software and the energy analysis is then performed with DesignBuilder software using sustainable materials and renewable energy. The case study building includes appropriate materials in the walls and windows, standard thermal insulation, solar panels on the ceiling and walls, standard ventilation and wind turbines for lighting. The model is analyzed with the DesignBuilder simulator software and then the design is created with the most suitable placement angle based on the optimal energy consumption. The simulation results show that the optimal orientation of the building with the optimal overlap of the shadow finder band and the diagram obtained is 10° to the southeast. The final result of the analysis of the optimal energy consumption of the building at a cooling set point temperature of 24°–26° based on the window to wall ratio from October to February shows a value of 84900 kw/h to 88800 kw/h. According to the optimal design of the building and the results of the energy analysis, the cost of building a school based on the cost of services and infrastructure per gross internal floor area is £959,815, which is the optimal cost of implementing a green school. The results have shown that all selected components in the green schools in the cold regions of Iran to achieve the main goal of using as much solar energy as possible, compensating for unfavorable climatic conditions and creating comfortable conditions for students through the implementation of sustainable architecture.

School buildings as performative machines: the new architectural devices of control

ABSTRACT The past two decades saw a growing attention to the role of design for the geography of education and simultaneously shifted architectural attention towards the understanding of different forms of pedagogy. Yet, careful empirical engagements with the material architecture of contemporary school buildings and the experiences they mediate are still scarce or missing. Focussing on how mechanisms of control are imagined and practiced in the design and use of school buildings, this article fleshes out a picture of the performative spatial machinery of schools. It will do so drawing on designers’ accounts, plans and visions for a Building Schools for the Future (BSF) building in Liverpool, UK and on accounts of the experiences of different school dwellers. Overcoming the dualist understanding of education as an activity that happens in objective frames of learning (the static architecture of the schools) or the subjective interpretations of users (the perception of teachers and students), we trace specific practices of ‘dwelling’ in the school building and identify architectural and designerly techniques for modulating control. Instead of dissipating or reducing control, or merely re-producing the classic forms of power, this versatile and porous type of architecture, we argue, multiplies and diversifies the forms of ‘polycentric’ control exercised through various intersecting lines of sight and sound.

Passive strategies for energy-efficient educational facilities: Insights from a mediterranean primary school

This study investigates the thermal and energetic dynamics of primary school classrooms in a Mediterranean climate in Khoualed Abdel Hakeem, Ain Temouchent County, Algeria. The research highlights significant optimizations by focusing on passive strategies such as external shading devices, Window-to-Wall Ratio (WWR), glazing types, and building envelope adjustments. Our simulations, validated rigorously, showcase a remarkable congruence with actual electricity consumption, affirming the reliability and efficacy of our simulation model as a valuable predictive tool. A Vertical Shading Angle (VSA) of 60° proves optimal, resulting in an impressive 11% reduction in Annual Energy Consumption (AEC). A recommended WWR of 30% demonstrates an 11% decrease in AEC and improves thermal and energy efficiency. Double Low Emissivity (Double-Low E) glazing is found to be superior, resulting in a significant 14% decrease in AEC. Achieving a WWR of 50% in shaded areas helps maintain a well-balanced thermal environment, resulting in a 12% reduction in heating and cooling requirements. The integration of passive strategies in the optimized model showcases a remarkable 44% overall reduction in energy consumption. The results highlight the efficacy of passive strategies, promoting energy-conscious and ecologically responsible practices, advocating for their incorporation in educational facilities, and offering valuable insights for sustainable school building design.

Interactions between Design Innovation and Educational Change in Non-Western Schools

In Western countries, school systems have employed modern school building designs as symbols for progressive and innovative educational change. Yet, how does this design symbolism change teaching and learning? To address this, we examine the challenges and complexities of innovative school design by drawing on case studies of preschool and primary-level schools from non-Western cultural contexts. A conceptual framework that links social, organisational, cultural, and material elements is used to analyse two new schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Uruguay that used modern school designs as a basis for changes to local pedagogical approaches. Our findings suggest that school building design is not able, by itself, to drive educational changes; and that there are inherent challenges involved in its alignment with localities in terms of staff cultures, student dynamics, and school organisation. Special focus is given to the design of the new school facilities, and the voice of educators in this process. The conclusion points out the need for an adaptive alignment between non-Western educational conventions and introduced education and design concepts.

Using building information modelling to optimise design quality of natural lighting in Iraqi school buildings

Abstract One of the most important aspects directly affecting a building’s performance is the design quality of the natural day-lighting. The present research evaluates the effectiveness of daylight in school buildings in the city of Baghdad. It aims to ascertain how the characteristics of building windows affect the quality of day-lighting, the objective of this exercise being to improve educational processes in schools by making improvements in relation to the aspect of provision of satisfactory day-lighting levels. A building simulation approach was adopted, and using Autodesk Revit 2018 (Insight plug-in), a daylight analysis was conducted under the aegis of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology. For the case study, we selected the modern design of a 24-classrooms school building, which is part of a plan for the construction of 1,000 Iraqi schools. Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED v4) simulation was conducted on the school building design to provide the results, which were measured and analysed according to LEED v4 standards. The results demonstrated that opening dimensions and direction have an essential impact on natural day-lighting. The research concluded that using BIM simulation tools enhances the design quality of the natural lighting in such a way that compliance with LEED v4 requirements is achieved. The present study will assist in identification and assessment of the problems concerned with natural lighting levels in Iraqi school buildings as well as resolving these at an early design stage.

Assessement on the Impact of School Resources on Principals’ Administrative Duties in Selected Public Secondary Day Schools in Maara Sub-County, Kenya

The administration and management of principals imply the arrangement of human and material resources available in education and their methodical use for the fulfilment of educational goals. The following objectives guided this study: the influence of finances on principals’ administrative duties in public day secondary schools, the influence of human resources on principals’ administrative duties in public day secondary schools, and the influence of the community surrounding the school on principals’ administrative duties in public day secondary schools in Maara Sub-County. The descriptive survey design was employed in this study to characterize the behaviour of all independent and dependent variables in order to establish a relationship between them. The current research was conducted in Tharaka Nithi County, specifically in the Maara sub-county. The current study’s target group will include parents, class lead instructors, a Quality Assurance Officer, and school principals affiliated with public day secondary schools in Maara Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, totaling 162. The sampling frame included 125 people chosen from a pool of 162 people living in Maara Sub-County in 2020. A questionnaire, an interview guide, an observation checklist, and a document analysis guide were used to collect data. The data collected was examined using descriptive statistics. Descriptive statistics make use of central tendency behaviour to assess data. The study found that respondents (mean 4.00) agree that ICT infrastructure improves engagement of teachers and learners in modern forms of knowledge acquisition; textbooks and note books lead to excellence in academic outcomes; and teaching aids, primarily audio-visual, increase learners’ resilience to life. The study found that school building design improves teacher retention, which improves academic success; laboratories promote practical work, which improves academic achievement; and conducive classrooms improve teachers’ and students’ attitudes, which improves academic accomplishment. The study found that teachers’ professional discharge of duties improves educational quality and thus academic achievement; school administrators who can organize the process of teaching and learning to promote the school mission improve academic achievement; and teachers’ experience, knowledge, and teaching skills improve their effectiveness and thus academic achievement. The study found out that, number of students admitted in secondary schools over the last five years (2018-2022) has increased, however, there has been a decerease in KCPE men grade over the last five years. This might be as a result 100% transition from primary school to secondary school. The research also found that instructional resources, physical facilities, and human resources all had an impact on a student’s academic progress in public secondary schools.

Architectural Design of School Buildings in the View of Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence

Architectural Design of School Buildings in the View of Concepts and Applications of Artificial Intelligence

A Study on Thermal and Acoustic comfort in an Institutional Building

The indoor environment in educational buildings like schools and colleges need to provide a healthy atmosphere to encourage the students towards learning and improve their productivity. In educational buildings, both thermal and acoustical comfort depend on the site and there exists a relationship among buildings, open spaces, building design with external factors and also its interior design. The aim of the current paper is to study the thermal and acoustic principles in detail and analyze the factors that impact the occupant’s health and comfort by field study method in a school building. Both thermal and acoustical factors that influence the occupants’ health and comfort are highlighted in this study and prioritized for necessary enhancements in the school building. A central board school building was identified for the study and the paper discusses about the site features and building design. For this study, the field data was recorded during 2019. Based on the data collected, analysis was conducted on the influencing factors on thermal and acoustical comfort of the school building. The methodology of the work includes an understanding about the influencing factors of thermal and acoustical comfort with documentation of the school building design, field study measurements in the identified school building and analysing the building design with field measurements on thermal and acoustical factors in school building. The field study measurements were recorded using a Thermo-anemometer and a data logger to collect the data on temperature, humidity and wind speed. Subjective analysis was conducted about comfort and noise level among the students aged between 9 and 16 using a questionnaire survey. The opportunities for improving the occupants’ well being and comfort include various measures that are listed herewith; appropriate shading of the windows that can reduce the heat transfer into the building; well-channelized air movement into the indoor environment to improve the occupants’ comfort; and replacing the paved surfaces with grasscrete or aligning the axis path with shrubs to reduce the radiation towards the indoor surfaces. On the other hand, the selection of the appropriate building materials for wall construction provides an oppurtunity to increase the indoor environmental quality. It can also act as insulation to reduce the noise level in the classrooms.

Optimizing overheating, lighting, and heating energy performances in Canadian school for climate change adaptation: Sensitivity analysis and multi-objective optimization methodology

This paper aims to develop long-term adaptation strategies for the existing Canadian school buildings under extreme current and future climates using a developed methodology based on global and local sensitivity analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization Genetic Algorithm. The calibrated simulation model based on indoor and outdoor measured temperature for a school of interest is used to evaluate the optimization strategies. This paper aims to search for the optimum school building design under three simultaneous conflicting objective functions: (1) the minimization of overheating hours to less than 40 h as required by Building Bulletin BB101 building code by using passive mitigation measures, (2) the minimization of heating energy use to less than 15 kW/m2 according to passive house requirements and thus the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and (3) the minimization of artificial lighting energy use to less than the current lighting energy use by maximization of daylighting usage without exceeding acceptable glare index in classrooms. Ten building design variables are selected, which could generate approximately 300,000 solutions. The developed methodology reduced the numbers to 14,400 solutions and found seven Pareto solutions that comply with the three objectives and their constraints. High energy-efficient building envelope, appropriate window-wall ratio and window type, natural ventilation during the day, and night cooling can play a key role in achieving the objectives under current weather conditions. An additional cool roof and external overhang will be needed in the medium-term future climate, and an additional movable screen shading will be needed in the long-term future climate.

미세먼지 저감 신축학교 설계안의 에너지효율 분석

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to suggest an optimal energy efficiency plan for the design of a new school with fine dust reduction. Method: To this end, we simulated energy comsumption of the existing school design (Case 1) and the new school design plans reflecting three energy saving alternatives (Case 2, Case 3, and Case 4). Result: As a result of the simulation analysis using E+, the energy consumption for Case 1 was 59.82kWh/㎡ ·a, Case 2 was 66.43kWh/㎡·a, Case 3 was 64.56kWh/㎡·a, and Case 4 was 43.18kWh/㎡·a. The new school design plan considering passive elements (Case 4) was the most advantageous for energy saving. It was possible to save 27.81% of energy compared to the existing school design. In addition, the passive element that has the greatest impact on energy saving is airtightness performance, and it was thought desirable to design ACH50 below 10. The study results will be useful for energy-saving design of new school building with fine dust reduction.

Culturally based learning needs of Korowai students in a lowland-remote area of Indonesian Papua: school physical environment and building design

AbstractThis study explored the culturally based learning needs of Korowai students living in a lowland-remote area in Papua to address the question of how education in this part of Indonesia could be inclusive and engaging for indigenous students and their community. Case study was selected as it has potential to reveal detailed structured information and in-depth description of people and their experiences within a particular location, time and socio-political circumstance. The case study school was purposively chosen, due to its uniqueness of being situated in a remote, hunter-gatherer community that only recently began to modernise. School physical environment and building design was one of the identified themes that emerged in the case study school. This theme included some sub-themes, namely (1) the school building design, (2) forest as the school’s physical environment, and (3) school garden and animal husbandry. The Korowai students brought social and cultural capital and expectations to their local school that differed from those of traditional Indonesian school expectations and presented different learning needs. How the local school and teachers responded to these varied expectations and learning needs also differed and revealed further needs for differentiation in education. These points of differentiation include needs in their physical environment: to build some classrooms in the style of Korowai treehouse dwellings and to replant forest and food trees close to the school to provide students with a sense of cultural connection and school belonging.

A sound environment for schools: 60 years of research into the impact

Problems caused by noise and poor acoustics in schools and other educational establishments have been recognised for over 100 years. Many countries now have guidelines or regulations governing the acoustic design of school buildings, reflecting the need for acoustic environments which are suitable for teaching and learning. The development of such guidelines follows many years of research into the detrimental impact of excessive noise and reverberation on pupils and teachers. Since the 1960s research around the world has shown that noise in schools affects children's academic performance and achievements, causes annoyance and disturbance to pupils and teachers and, together with reverberation, reduces speech intelligibility in the classroom. This paper reviews much of this research, focusing on the acoustic design of enclosed classrooms and its impact on pupils of all ages.

Towards developing partnership models for leveraging design for manufacture and assembly for school buildings

The substantial efforts made in implementing design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) in construction developments thus far have been scattered. Past research has focused on the operational practice of volumetric and non-volumetric assembly, component manufacture and sub-assembly and modular building. This paper seeks to cover a comprehensive review with case studies to explore how DfMA can be leveraged in the design and delivery of school buildings. Three case studies were conducted to demonstrate how DfMA methods were applied in actual projects, identifying the challenges and issues confronted. The adopted techniques and involved challenges in school building projects were identified along with the capability and risk profiles that come with the opportunities to lead DfMA projects. Re-engineering as an aspect to engage in DfMA-led construction developments and how this may impact the current services of a construction firm were evaluated. The results reveal effective partnership models for establishing a sustainable business model for DfMA school buildings followed by a project feedback collection model. The partnership models developed provide guidance on establishing relationships to achieve the maximum potential of DfMA in school projects. The project feedback collection model promotes better circulation of lessons learned for advancement in future projects.

Construction Technologies and Conservation Strategies for the Bell Tower of Former Nanking University (Nanjing, China)—A Case Study of a Typical Architectural Heritage of the American Church School in the Late 19th Century

The bell tower of Nanking University, built in 1888, is a milestone of modern educational architecture in Nanjing. It fully introduced Western architectural concepts and is an important historical witness to the cultural exchange between China and the West. At present, there are few studies on the conservation and reuse of the building, so the authors conducted the project. In this paper, we conducted research by combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative analysis includes analyses of historical maps, photos, text, surveys, mapping of buildings, and a comparative analysis. The quantitative analysis includes statistics on the distribution of the urban school architectural heritage, the number of buildings at Nanking University, and China’s school building design standards. Through the historical research and value analysis of the building, we explore its real information from the aspects of architectural style, space, structure, material, and construction technology, and propose a reasonable conservation method. According to the current urban planning policy and architectural heritage data, the functional upgrading and renovation of the building will be carried out. This paper explores authenticity and integrity-based restoration methods, as well as the adaptive-reuse strategy for China’s architectural heritage, which can provide a paradigm for regional development and historic campus renewal.

GENERATIVE DESIGN AND IEQ PERFORMANCE OPTIMIZATION OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS BASED ON A PARAMETRIC ALGORITHM

This research aims to examine the potential of generative and optimization algorithms in the early stage of a school building design in Tabriz to achieve better IEQ. It also investigates the compatibility of the evolutionary optimization tools combined with a parametric model in stimulating building comfort performance in achieving an optimized design. This process includes four steps: defining the parametric building model, defining its material and construction properties, stimulation of thermal and visual comfort and carbon dioxide concentration, optimization, and choosing the best result. The adaptive PMV model is used for thermal comfort, imageless daylight glare probability is used for visual comfort, and a CO2 concentration is used for IAQ assessment. It was found that the performance of the options introduced by the algorithm is more appropriate than the design prototype. However, the results show that the samples are acceptable in carbon dioxide concentration. What needs further investigation is thermal and visual comfort. Among the studied variables on IEQ performance, the WWR ratio of the southern wall had the most significant impact. Based on the optimization results, thermal comfort changed in the range of 10%, visual comfort in the range of 30%, and CO2 concentration in the range of 0.19%.