Civil Engineering and Architecture Vol. 8(5), pp. 735 - 749
DOI: 10.13189/cea.2020.080501
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Compliance of High-rise Buildings Vertical Accessibility Components with Universal Design Strategies: A Case Study of Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria


Sholanke A. B. , Adelowo I. E. *, Gbotosho J. O.
Department of Architecture, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

In recent times, with the increase in population, land areas that can accommodate the traditional school design model are becoming difficult to come by in urban areas or expensive. Therefore, for urban schools to accommodate the increasing population, school designs have shifted from outward horizontal arrangements to upward vertical designs. Consequently, this study examined the compliance of vertical accessibility components in high-rise buildings in Covenant University, Ota in Nigeria, with universal design strategies, with a view to identifying areas for further improvements, towards contributing to ways of promoting social inclusion in educational environments. The research is a qualitative case study of a tertiary institution that investigated two high-rise buildings on the university campus. An observation guide developed for the study and a digital camera were used to collect primary field data. The data were content analysed and presented using descriptive approach with the aid of texts and pictures. The findings revealed that ramps, steps/staircases and lifts are the vertical accessibility components provided in the high-rise buildings, all of which were found to exhibit various levels of inconsistencies with universal design strategies. One of the key recommendations of the study is to retrofit the buildings with necessary accessible features where they are lacking or inappropriately provided, where possible. The study will be useful to researchers, students, educators, policy makers and building design professionals in addressing issues relating to universal design of the built environment, particularly as it relates to the provision of equitable vertical movement features in high-rise public buildings.

KEYWORDS
Universal Design, High-rise Buildings, Accessibility, Usability, Vertical Movement Components, Covenant University

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Sholanke A. B. , Adelowo I. E. , Gbotosho J. O. , "Compliance of High-rise Buildings Vertical Accessibility Components with Universal Design Strategies: A Case Study of Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria," Civil Engineering and Architecture, Vol. 8, No. 5, pp. 735 - 749, 2020. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2020.080501.

(b). APA Format:
Sholanke A. B. , Adelowo I. E. , Gbotosho J. O. (2020). Compliance of High-rise Buildings Vertical Accessibility Components with Universal Design Strategies: A Case Study of Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria. Civil Engineering and Architecture, 8(5), 735 - 749. DOI: 10.13189/cea.2020.080501.