Prioritisation of on-campus university student housing facility spaces

Abstract

Studies from many parts of the world, including Ghana, show that users’ requirements are not duly incorporated into the management process of university building facilities. This paper, therefore, determined the levels of importance and priorities students attach to the various spaces required in a Student Housing Facility (SHF). The importance and priority ratings were then put together to develop a prioritisation system that can guide the provision and management of SHF spaces. A phenomenological research strategy was used in this study. Data was qualitatively collected by means of focus group discussions (FGDs). Observations were also carried out during the site visit to supplement the FGDs. The data was analysed thematically. The study found that bathrooms, sleeping spaces, kitchens, study areas, libraries, sick bays, computer labs, bookshops, dry line areas and discussion rooms are ‘extremely important’ spaces that students expect in an ideal SHF. However, it also became evident that only 5 of these spaces (i.e. bathrooms, sleeping spaces, study areas, sick bays, and dry line areas) were perceived as ‘basic’ requirement. The prioritisation framework developed can be utilised throughout the life cycle of SHFs. The framework can be used as a guide by facility managersto effectively manage the spaces in university SHFs. Secondly, it can be a very useful framework for upgrading SHFs. Moreover, architects, developers and university management can use the framework as a guide for the design and construction of new SHFs.