Occupant’s Satisfaction in the Design of Sustainable Students’ Housing Complex at Rivers State University

Abstract

The rapid growth of student populations at Nigerian universities has led to severe on-campus housing shortages, forcing students into substandard off-campus accommodation. This study proposes the design of a modern, high-density residential student complex at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt. The project aims to provide functional, secure, and environmentally sustainable housing. A mixed-method approach—incorporating on-site surveys, climate analysis of the Niger Delta, and literature review of student housing standards—was used to develop a design that enhances student life and academic performance. The proposed Student Housing Complex at Rivers State University , Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, addresses critical challenges of inadequate, overcrowded, and poorly maintained on-campus accommodation amid rapid enrollment growth. With RSU hosting over 29,000 students but with limited bed spaces around 3,000–4,700 presently many students face severe issues including sanitation deficiencies, erratic water supply, poor waste management, insecurity, and substandard living conditions due to overcrowding that negatively impact academic performance, health, and well-being. This design proposes a modern, sustainable, mixed-gender (with segregated blocks) student housing complex on available campus land, incorporating climate- responsive strategies tailored to the hot-humid tropical environment of the Niger Delta region. The complex aims to provide high-quality, affordable, and secure accommodation for approximately 2,000–3,000 students initially, with modular scalability for future expansion. Key- words – Student, Housing, Complex, Sustainable, Design, Living-Learning Environment, Inclusive

References