The influence of different courtyard ratios in university buildings on their thermal performance during the hot period: (Faculties of Agriculture and Education, New Sohag University, Egypt as a case study).

Abstract

Due to the importance of courtyards in educational buildings, their role in improving climate and their impact on students’ performance and learning. This paper aims to comparing the thermal performance of courtyards with different dimensions and ratios, with their impact on overlooking space in university buildings, as well as their impact on the thermal comfort of the students in such courtyards in “the Faculties of Agriculture and Education, New Sohag University” during the hot period of the academic year (March, April, May). It’s worth noting that in order to achieve this aim, the research adopted the analytical and the applied methods; which included field measurements and questionnaire Furthermore, Parameters (such as indoor/outdoor temperatures, relative humidity, and airspeed) of the courtyards and spaces overlooking them were measured. In addition to 900 questionnaires forms that were distributed in the courtyards of the faculties of Agriculture and Education during the hot period which represent measurement months (March, April and May). Meanwhile, the findings indicated that the temperatures of “the Faculty of Agriculture courtyard” with a height/width ratio of (0.7) was higher than the temperature of “the Faculty of Education courtyard” with a height/width ratio of (1.2). The findings also revealed that the “Faculty of Education courtyards” with a H/W ratio of (1.2) achieved a sense of the thermal performance of overlooking spaces and Acceptable thermal comfort for students better than “the Faculty of Agriculture courtyards” with a H/W ratio of (0.7) during the hot period.