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SUSTAINABLE AND SMART BUILDING DESIGN ENHANCING NATURAL VENTILATION AND DAYLIGHTING IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES: A PERFORMANCE-BASED APPROACH FOR THE AKWA IBOM STATE SECRETARIATE

ABSTRACT

Government office buildings in warm–humid tropical climates frequently exhibit poor indoor environmental performance, leading to excessive dependence on mechanical cooling and artificial lighting. These challenges are particularly pronounced in large public-sector facilities that operate for extended daily hours. This study evaluates the natural ventilation and daylighting performance of the Akwa Ibom State Secretariat, Nigeria, using a performance-based approach that integrates field measurements, occupant surveys, and environmental simulations. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling was employed to assess airflow patterns under prevailing climatic conditions, while daylight performance was evaluated using Radiance-based simulations and on-site illuminance measurements. The results reveal inadequate cross-ventilation, uneven airflow distribution, and sub-standard daylight penetration across typical office spaces, primarily due to building orientation, façade design, and window configuration. Based on these findings, the study recommends improving cross-ventilation through better alignment of inlet and outlet openings and optimizing window placement to enhance daylight penetration while controlling glare and heat gain. These measures have the potential to significantly reduce reliance on mechanical systems. The research contributes empirical evidence and replicable design insights relevant to the retrofit and future design of public office buildings in tropical regions.

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Building Design; Natural Ventilation; Daylighting; Building Performance Simulation; Tropical Government Offices.

Nkoro, Iboro Udofot Michael C. Oguike Ph.D. And Utibe E. Akah Ph.D

SHARED SEASONED INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOPICAL ISSUES VOL.13 NO.1