Co esponding au ho : E elyn Memshima Tuleun
Copy igh © 2025 Au ho (s) e ain he copy igh o his a icle. This a icle is published unde he e ms o he C ea i e Commons A ibu ion License 4.0.
A chi ec u al solu ions owa ds minimizing main enance p oblems in he design o
public hea es
E elyn Memshima Tuleun *
Di ec o a e o Physical Planning, Joseph Sa wuan Ta ka Uni e si y, Maku di, Benue S a e, Nige ia.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 3842-3852
Publica ion his o y: Recei ed on 15 Ma ch 2025; e ised on 23 Ap il 2025; accep ed on 26 Ap il 2025
A icle DOI: h ps://doi.o g/10.30574/wja .2025.26.1.1529
Abs ac
Public hea es a e impo an cul u al landma ks and b eeding g ounds o a is ic exp ession, bu many su e om
apid physical degene a ion as a esul o poo ly applied main enance app oaches in Nige ia. Using Thea e design as
a ocal case, his s udy in es iga es how a chi ec u al design could se e as a p oac i e ool in minimizing main enance
challenges. I p o ides a c i ical analysis o design decisions, spa ial o ganiza ion, ma e ial speci ica ion, de ailing, and
si e planning and he main enance demands hey c ea e. U ilising as a p ima y app oach a compa a i e analysis o
exis ing hea es loca ed in Lagos, Benin, and Maku di, alongside ield obse a ions, checklis e alua ions, and
s uc u ed in e iews, his s udy iden i ies some majo design-based main enance challenges.
Resea ch conduc ed shows ha bad de ailing, closed se ice zones and he use o di e en ma e ials no compa ible
wi h he en i onmen al condi ions a e he h ee main causes o apid deg ada ion. To o e come he abo e limi a ions,
he s udy sugges s a main enance-o ien ed ypological amewo k ha encompasses- clima e esponsi e design,
du abili y o ma e ials, modula building sys ems, and oppo unis ic access. The esul s suppo a design app oach ha
os e s main ainabili y om he concep ual s age o sus ain building li e, dec ease ope a ional expendi u es, and
p omo e he ongoing cul u al ele ance o he na ional hea es. The esul s p esen a p o able model o sus ainable
hea e design in compa able socio-en i onmen al condi ions o Nige ia.
Keywo ds: Building main enance; Public hea es; A chi ec u al design; Main enance challenges; Compa a i e
analysis
1. In oduc ion
Thea es, as a chi ec u al landma ks, se e as cul u al hubs and a es amen o he a is ic and his o ical iden i y o
socie ies. The Na ional A s Thea e is one o se e al his o ically signi ican pe o ming hea es ha ha e s ood in
Nige ia as icons o na ional p ide and a is ic exp ession. Bu he eali y o many o hese buildings ell a sad s o y ha
o s uc u al decomposi ion, neglec , and bad main enance p ac ices. Au ho [1] indica es ha he ising cos s o
building main enance is ela ed o aging buildings and absence o a p e-planned s a egy. This is ue especially o
hea es, which ep esen and encode symbolic and o en complex a chi ec u al spaces.
Acco ding o [2], many Nige ian hea es a e in sad s a es and his has a ec ed hei public appeal and usage. This is
u he subs an ia ed by Eni [3] who explains his decay as a esul o poo main enance p ac ice, and Ikpo [4] who
desc ibes he decay o public in as uc u e as a esul o neglec and indi e ence leading o he en e p ise losing i s
cul u al and unc ional alue. The Na ional A s Thea e in Lagos is e e enced as a p ime model o a once de ining
edi ice o na ional g andeu o p e-independence Lagos o A and Cul u e now languishing in o a model o a monumen
o go e nmen al neglec .
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Al hough discou se on main enance in he public building sec o has o en been amed in e ms o policy and esou ce
alloca ion, se e al esea che s [5,6,7] ha e c i icized he ailu e o add ess issues ha mus be conside ed a he p ojec
design s age. Poo a chi ec u al decisions, hey a gue on de ailing, ma e ial speci ica ion, spa ial o ganiza ion and
cons uc ion sys ems can ha e a signi ican e ec on he li e expec ancy and main enance demands o buildings. S udies
[1,8] ha e, he e o e, called o an in eg a ion o main ainabili y wi hin design hough p ocesses, claiming ha
main enance p oblems can be mi iga ed ea ly in he p ocess, esul ing in lowe li e ime cos s.
As such, a chi ec s a e app oaching he design phase in a way ha mi iga es main enance issues. Acco ding o [9],
ealizing he end-use 's p ocli i y o neglec ing main enance sound i sel is he eason a chi ec s should p oduce
buildings equi ing li le in e en ion. Though au ho s [10] belie e main enance- ee a chi ec u e is no likely, i is
impo an o no e ha ewe ecu ing issues can be a oided h ough quali y design. [11] u he call o designe s o
plan o main ainabili y in addi ion o aes he ics and unc ionali y, designing buildings ha a e bo h exp essi e and
sus ainable.
The s udy p esen s sp ingboa d om which o eimagine hea e design in Nige ia. Iden i ying c i ical design- ela ed
main enance challenges in exis ing hea es include poo d ainage sys ems, w ong ma e ial speci ica ion, and
inaccessibili y o main enance ope a ions [12] as e alua ed by exis ing hea es like he Na ional A s Thea e in Lagos,
he Oba Akenzua Cul u al Cen e in Benin, and he Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e in Maku di. F om hese indings, hese
a e he p ocesses ha ocus on con enien a chi ec u e, ma u e ma e ial uses and a ional space planning, as well as
esponsi e cons uc ion me hods.
The pape seeks o con ibu e o he eme ging a chi ec u al discou se on sus ainable design solu ions ha educe he
main enance demand he eby p omo ing sus ainabili y and conse ing bo h cul u al he i age and he long- e m u ili y
o Nige ia’s hea e in as uc u e.
2. Li e a u e e iew
2.1. Building main enance: concep s and classi ica ions
Building main enance e e s o all he asks designed o keep a building unc ion, pe o mance, and appea ance o e
ime. Acco ding o [13], i is wo k ha is done o p ese e o eco e a building and i s i ings o an adequa e condi ion
o ongoing usage. Acco ding o [14, 15] he B i ish S anda ds Ins i u ion (BS 3811, 1984) g ouped main enance
ac i i ies in o planned and unplanned ac i i ies, which co e s p e en i e and co ec i e. P e en i e main enance is
unde aken o p e en ailu es om happening, while co ec i e main enance esol es de ec s a e hey ha e
happened [16]. Acco ding o [17], he e a e h ee main s ages in building main enance: he planning and design s age,
he cons uc ion phase, and he pos -occupancy phase. One o he impo an conclusions d awn om his classi ica ion
is ha long- e m main enance is de e mined du ing he ea ly s ages o he design p ocess, hence, ein o cing he
impo ance o p e-emp i e main enance planning a a chi ec u al le el
2.2. Rela ionship be ween design and main enance
Se e al esea che s ha e ho oughly examined he connec ion be ween design and main enance, emphasizing ha
building de ec s, as well as ma e ial pe o mance and du abili y o e ime, a e la gely in luenced by design decisions
[18]. Un o una ely, [5,19] complains ha main enance is a ely planned om he design s age, and hence cons an
p oblems e-occu du ing pos occupancy s ages. Some called o main ainabili y o be an in eg al pa o design. This
includes [20], who belie es app op ia e design can educe main enance wo k and long- e m cos s. On he same no e,
Lam [21] a gue ha main enance p oblems a e commonly due o poo design om incep ion. Da a se s used by [22],
p o e he in e se ela ionship be ween highe quali y o design and highe equency o main enance, hus p o ing he
di ec cause-and-e ec ela ionship.
2.3. A chi ec u al design ac o s a ec ing main enance
Based on he abo e easons, a concep ual model o he a ious building ac o s and elemen s om he design s age as
shown in Figu e 1 which has been de eloped h ough e iew o li e a u e will be s udied o possibly minimize he
main enance p oblems a he pos occupancy s age o a building.
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Figu e 1 Concep ual amewo ks o a chi ec u al Design and main enance
• Accessibili y. [23] highligh s a poo access le el o necessa y a eas o a building (e.g., oo spaces and acades)
as a majo cause o de e ing building main enance. The absence o key ea u es such as ca walks make
main enance di icul and cos ly
• Building Fo m and Complexi y. Modelling Fo m and Complexi y o building geome ies acco ding o [24,25],
add o bo h ini ial cons uc ion cos and u u e main enance equi emen . Public buildings such as hea es
o en ha e isual impac due o hei size and placemen ; he su ounding land o a success ul piece o
a chi ec u e can o en c ea e a "Noisy" o m like Ikpo [4] desc ibed ha can dec ease pe o mance e iciency
on a su ace le el, bu a isually "noisy" design is usually chosen o symbolic o aes he ic easons.
• De ailing and Cons uc ion Documen a ion. De ec s and poo execu ion a e a esul o poo de ailing and
incomple e design speci ica ions. Acco ding o [23], insu icien d awings can lead o misin e p e a ion a he
ime o cons uc ion causing pe manen damage o he s uc u e
• Spa ial O ganisa ion. Spa ial ine iciencies such as na ow co ido s o inaccessible se ice zones a e known o
inc ease wea and ea , while educing access o main enance ope a ions [8].
• Ma e ial Speci ica ion. One such misconcep ion is ha ma e ials a e he mos common cause o de ec s when
in eali y his a ises om an unsui able ma e ial p ope y being used in a pa icula clima e o usage condi ion
[26]. [9,27], no e en i onmen al in e ac ions, including UV adia ion, mois u e, and empe a u e a ia ion, as
c i ical op ions du ing ma e ial selec ion. In public occupying spaces, such as wi h hea es, ma e ials also ha e
o pass pe o mance equi emen s [16,28].
• Ven ila ion. Ven ila ion componen s in buildings such as windows, exhaus s and en ila ion duc s and ai
passages, se e as he espi a o y o gans and passages o buildings. Acco ding o [23,29] when ce ain a eas
in a building a e no p o ided wi h adequa e enes a ions i c ea es a oom o hick moulds and ungal g ow h.
• Roo Design. Acco ding o Hea h [30], complex oo designs inc ease he need o alley gu e s o d ain
adjacen slopes, making hem mo e suscep ible o leaks. The s udy also ound ha oo ing laid a a low pi ch,
especially in exposed a eas, may allow ainwa e pene a ion. Guye [31] emphasized ha sloped oo s, which
e ec i ely shed wa e , a e less p one o leaks and equi e less main enance han la oo s.
• Si e Planning and Landscaping. Au ho [32] ad oca es o sus ainable landscaping using low-main enance
plan s and pa ing sys ems o educe he li e cycle cos s o ex e nal en i onmen s.
• Low Conce n owa d Main enance. Au ho [33] no ed ha aes he ic conside a ions o en o e ide unc ionali y
du ing ma e ial selec ion. Designe s o en p io i ize appea ance o e du abili y, he eby inad e en ly
inc easing main enance equi emen s.
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3. Me hodology
• Resea ch Design. This s udy employs quali a i e case s udy me hodology o analyse how a chi ec u al design
solu ions could ha e alle ia ed main enance p oblems in he design o public hea es. This me hodology
acili a es an analysis in o he spa ial, ma e ial, and s uc u ing o ces ha impac hea e a chi ec u al
main ainabili y. I is designed o acili a e he e alua ion o exis ing design acili ies, assessmen s o he
main enance issues, and he p oposal o design in e en ions.
• Case S udy Selec ion. Th ee case s udies we e pu posely selec ed, he choice o which was in luenced by hei
geog aphical ele ance, a chi ec u al ypology and unc ionali y. These include:
o The Na ional A s Thea e, Lagos
o Oba Akenzua Cul u al Cen e, Benin Ci y
o Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e, Maku di
Selec ion c i e ia included geog aphical sp ead, pe o mance ype, building age, usage and main enance issues
epo ed.
• Da a Collec ion Techniques. Da a collec ion was conduc ed using isual su ey, s uc u ed checklis s and
in e iews.
• Visual Su ey. Obse a ional si e isi s we e ca ied ou o ecognize a chi ec u al componen s impac ing
main ainabili y. These consis o oo ing sys ems, acade inishes, access ou es, d ainage sys ems, and
ma e ial deg ada ion pa e ns.
• Checklis Assessmen . Li e a u e on building main ainabili y was used o s uc u ed checklis design, and he
chosen checklis s we e subsequen ly used o e alua e spa ial o ganiza ion, ma e ial speci ica ion, oo design,
and accessibili y. The checklis guided he assessmen in all h ee case s udies
• S uc u ed In e iews. Expe iences o wo king s a a hese hea es including acili y manage s, a chi ec s,
and main enance pe sonnel in e ac ing di ec ly wi h daily ope a ions we e de e mined h ough in e iews.
The ques ions we e di ec ed owa ds main enance i egula i ies, ecu ing challenges, and pe cep ion o
design ac o s in ol ed in building de e io a ion
• Va iables o Analysis. The s udy ocused on he ollowing a chi ec u al a iables, each linked o documen ed
main enance issues:
o Building Fo m and Complexi y
o Ma e ial Speci ica ion and En i onmen al Sui abili y
o Accessibili y o Main enance
o Roo and D ainage Design
o Ven ila ion and The mal Com o Sys ems
o Spa ial O ganiza ion
o Si e Planning and Landscaping
• Da a Analysis. To ensu e accu acy and dep h, da a ob ained om he checklis s, in e iews, and isual su eys
we e iangula ed. Finally, an applied compa a i e analysis ac oss he h ee hea es looking o common
pa e ns o main enance and he design decisions behind hem. The a chi ec u al s a egies p o e ed o he
design o u u e hea e, we e in o med by key indings.
4. Resul s and Discussions
O e iew. The s udy assessed he a chi ec u al elemen s o exis ing hea e buildings in Nige ia wi h a ocus on
main enance implica ions, pa icula ly he Na ional A s Thea e, Lagos, se ing as a p eceden case o he design o a
new hea e in Abuja. Using ools such as isual su eys, checklis s, and s uc u ed in e iew.
Spa ial O ganiza ion. Spaces like backs age a eas, main enance access pa hs, and high-le el ligh ing zones lacked
accessibili y ea u es. Dead spaces we e unde u ilized as shown in Figu e 2, encou aging neglec and inc easing cleaning
and su eillance cos s.
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(Sou ce: Au ho ’s su ey, 2014)
Figu e 2a and 2b Poo s a e o main enance wi hin dead zones a he Na ional A Thea e, Lagos and Aminu Isa
Kon ago a Thea e
• S uc u e and Ma e ials. The use o la oo s wi h insu icien pi ch and de ailing led o pe sis en leakages
(Figu e 3).
(Sou ce: Au ho ’s su ey, 2014)
Figu e 3 The de e io a ion o ex e io walling ma e ial a he Na ional A Thea e, Lagos
Walling and ceiling ma e ials as e lec ed in Figu e 3 and 4 showed ex ensi e de e io a ion due o poo ma e ial
speci ica ion and lack o p o ec i e inishes agains ha sh wea he condi ions as shown in Figu e 5 .
(Sou ce: Au ho ’s su ey, 2014)
Figu e 4a and 4b The de e io a ion o ex e io walling ma e ial a he Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e, Maku di.
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(Sou ce: Au ho ’s su ey, 2014)
Figu e 5 Exposed oo a ea o ha sh wea he condi ions
5. In e iew conclusion
In e iew da a om hea e acili y manage s highligh ed poo ma e ial choices, limi ed access o main enance, and
o e ly complex aes he ics as ecu ing p oblems.
6. Checklis assessmen
A checklis was used o assess he le el o e lec ion o a ious ac o based on a i e-poin scale anging om e y low-
1poin , low-2poin , a e age-3poin , high-4poin and e y high-5poin .
Table 1 Checklis o he Assessmen o Design and Main enance a he Na ional A Thea e, Iganmu, Lagos
S/N
a iables
Checklis
Le el o applica ion
Rema k
1
2
3
4
5
1
Building
Fo m
Complexi y o design
Building o m indica ed
oo complex which
posed g ea challenges
o main enance.
Poo de ailing
D ainage layou based on he o m
2
Ma e ial
Sui abili y o he su ounding and clima e o
he egion
Ma e ials used indica ed
a e agely sui able o
clima e and usage.
Sui abili y in ela ion o usage
A ailabili y o building ma e ials
3
Si e planning
and
landscaping
Use o low main enance landscape elemen
High use o low
Main enance ma e ials.
Poo d ainage layou
4
Cons uc ion
sys em
Flexibili y o cons uc ion me hod
High igidi y in he
cons uc ion me hod
Sui abili y o clima e and en i onmen
5
Spa ial
o ganiza ion
U iliza ion o spaces
The spa ial o ganiza ion
we e p ope ly zoned
P ope zoning o ac i i ies
6
Accessibili y
Easy accessibili y o a ious acili ies
ew access ou es
p o ided
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Table 2 Checklis o he Assessmen o Design and Main enance a he Oba Akenzua Cul u al Cen e, Benin, Edo S a e
S/N
Va iables
Checklis
Le el o applica ion
Rema k
1
2
3
4
5
1
Building
Fo m
Complexi y o design
Al hough he design was
a e agely complex poo
de ailing was howe e
high
Poo de ailing
D ainage layou based on he o m
2
Ma e ial
Sui abili y o he su ounding and clima e o
he egion
A ailabili y o ma e ial
was seen o be e y high
which can be easily
sou ced
Sui abili y in ela ion o usage
A ailabili y o building ma e ials
3
Si e planning
and
landscaping
Use o low main enance landscape elemen
Poo conside a ion o si e
planning
Poo d ainage layou
4
Cons uc ion
sys em
Flexibili y o cons uc ion me hod
High sui abili y o
cons uc ion me hod o
clima e
Sui abili y o clima e and en i onmen
5
Spa ial
o ganiza ion
U iliza ion o spaces
u iliza ion o spaces was
no ed o be a e age
P ope zoning o ac i i ies
6
Accessibili y
Easy accessibili y o a ious acili ies
Ve y high accessibili y
Table 3 Checklis o he Assessmen o Design and Main enance a he Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e, Maku di
S/N
a iables
Checklis
Le el o applica ion
Rema k
1
2
3
4
5
1
Building
Fo m
Complexi y o design
Poo de ailing and
d ainage layou based on
o m indica ed o be high
Poo de ailing
D ainage layou based on he o m
2
Ma e ial
Sui abili y o he su ounding and clima e o
he egion
a ailabili y o ma e ials
was seen o be high
Sui abili y in ela ion o usage
A ailabili y o building ma e ials
3
Si e planning
and
landscaping
Use o low main enance landscape elemen
Low conside a ion was
gi en o si e planning and
landscaping
Poo d ainage layou
4
Cons uc ion
sys em
Flexibili y o cons uc ion me hod
Poo sui abili y o
cons uc ion me hod o
clima e
Sui abili y o clima e and en i onmen
5
Spa ial
o ganiza ion
U iliza ion o spaces
P esence o dead spaces
and he poo planning o
spaces.
P ope zoning o ac i i ies
6
Accessibili y
Easy accessibili y o a ious acili ies
Easy accessibili y based on
low head oom
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7. Summa y o indings om case s udies
• Building Fo m: Two key aspec s we e e alua ed unde building o m: inapp op ia e de ailing and d ainage
layou . In e ms o de ailing, bo h he Na ional A Thea e in Lagos and he Oba Akenzua Cul u al Cen e in
Benin showed an a e age le el o app op ia eness. Howe e , all h ee case s udies exhibi ed signi ican issues
wi h poo d ainage layou s due o he building o ms.
• Ma e ial: Rega ding ma e ial use, he clima e sui abili y o ma e ials was ound o be a e age ac oss all h ee
loca ions. When conside ing sui abili y based on usage, he Na ional A Thea e and he Oba Akenzua Cul u al
Cen e bo h pe o med well, while he Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e showed an a e age a ing. The a ailabili y
o ma e ials a he Na ional A Thea e was also a ed as a e age on a i e-poin scale.
• Si e Planning and Landscaping: This aspec ocused on he use o low-main enance landscape elemen s and
d ainage layou . The Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e was a ed poo ly in e ms o landscape main enance, while
he Oba Akenzua Cul u al Cen e and Na ional A Thea e sco ed a e age and good, espec i ely. Howe e ,
d ainage issues we e again a conce n, wi h bo h he Oba Akenzua Cul u al Cen e and Aminu Isa Kon ago a
Thea e showing a high le el o inadequacy.
• Cons uc ion Sys em: All h ee case s udies e ealed limi ed lexibili y in o m. The Na ional A Thea e, in
pa icula , demons a ed a high le el o unsui abili y in i s cons uc ion me hod o he local clima e, wi h
building ma e ials being o e ly exposed o he ho humid en i onmen and acidic ain all.
• Spa ial O ganiza ion: In e ms o space u iliza ion, bo h he Na ional A Thea e and he Oba Akenzua Cul u al
cen e sco ed 4 ou o 5, e lec ing e ec i e use o space. In con as , he Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e sco ed
only 2, indica ing poo space u iliza ion.
• Accessibili y: Main enance accessibili y a ied ac oss he buildings. The Na ional A Thea e was a ed poo ly
in his ega d. Con e sely, he Oba Akenzua Cul u al Cen e pe o med well, wi h access acili a ed h ough
s ai cases and open uni s like cou ya ds. The Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e was a ed a e age, bene i ing om
i s low ceiling heigh s, which eased access o main enance.
8. Design esponses
Based on indings om Lagos and o he case s udies, a p oposed hea e design should in eg a e se e al a chi ec u al
ea u es aimed a minimizing main enance challenges:
8.1. Si e Planning Enhancemen s
The landscape design should be pa ed su aces wi h de ined wa e d ainage slopes and g a el-based lawns o educe
ege a ion o e g ow h and ponding.
Rou e dema ca ion can be achie ed wi h du able in e locking pa e s, simpli ying way inding and educing landscape
wea .
8.2. Spa ial and Accessibili y Solu ions
The spa ial layou should enabled be easily accessible o high-le el sys ems h ough suspended ceilings and
demoun able oo panels.
Clus e ing o we a eas ( es ooms) minimized plumbing uns, educing leak po en ial and epai complexi y
8.3. Ma e ial Speci ica ion and En i onmen al Adap a ion
Selec ion o ma e ials should be chosen based on clima ic sui abili y, including he use o low-emissi i y glass, he mally
s able oo inishes, and UV- esis an coa ings
Ex e nal inishes should inco po a e wea he - ole an pain s and cladding o educe ading, laking, and mic obial
g ow h.
8.4. Roo ing and D ainage De ailing
A sloped oo ing sys em should endu e as uno and p e en ed wa e accumula ion.
Roo membe s should be designed o easy disman ling using bol ed s eel ames o simpli y pe iodic inspec ions.
Wo ld Jou nal o Ad anced Resea ch and Re iews, 2025, 26(01), 3842-3852
3850
8.5. Flexibili y and Long-Te m Use
Flexible cons uc ion componen s allow o econ igu a ion and u u e adap a ions, educing demoli ion o in asi e
epai s.
Openings and c oss- en ila ion designs p omo e passi e ai low, lowe ing he dependence on HVAC sys ems and
educing mechanical wea .
9. Summa y
This s udy in es iga ed he unde lying a chi ec u al p inciples ha ha e led o main enance p oblems in Nige ian
hea es wi h an explo a ion o he connec ion be ween design decisions in a chi ec u al buildings and he long- e m
main enance pe o mance o public pe o mance buildings. An e alua ion o a chi ec u al a ibu es pe aining o si e
planning, spa ial o ganiza ion, building o m, ma e ial speci ica ion, de ailing and main enance accessibili y h ough a
compa a i e analysis o h ee selec ed case s udies— he Na ional A s Thea e, Lagos, Oba Akenzua Cul u al Cen e,
Benin and Aminu Isa Kon ago a Thea e, Maku di.
The key indings a e ha main enance challenges in hese hea es a e p ima ily de i ed om design decisions made
a he d awing boa d le el. Some o he mos common causes o ailu e include lack o de ailing (e.g., insu icien
d ainage sys ems), use o w ong ma e ials unsui able o local clima ic condi ions, se ice zones which a e no
accessible, and emphasis on aes he ics o e unc ionali y and main ainabili y. This esea ch showcased ha by
implemen ing main enance-conscious ela ed app oaches ea ly in he design s age will minimize deg ada ion, as well
as esou ces used o e ime, in addi ion o sa ings in ope a ing cos s.
10. Conclusion
The s udy ound ha he a chi ec u al design is one o he mos impo an de e minan s o he main ainabili y o a
building, especially o hea es wi h unc ional and symbolic impo ance in ci y cen es. A he design s age, ailing o
ake main enance aspec s in o accoun has agg a a ed he apid de e io a ion o exis ing acili ies. A chi ec s
some imes ocus on li espan and desi e o c ea e iconic o ms ha ha e long e m need o main enance, which leads
o a high demand o main enance and ea ly deg ada ion o he s uc u e. Thus, hea e design mus en i ely conside
he en i onmen al ad ice, ma e ial selec ion, ease o access o main enance, and unc ional spa ial con igu a ion igh
om he e y beginning, o uphold sus ainable pe o mance.
Recommenda ions
F om he esea ch conduc ed, he majo indings sugges s ha wi h a comp ehensi e s udy by he a chi ec s om he
d awing boa d, a be e ecou se o add ess he issue o de ec s, pa icula ly wi h espec o how hese p oblems and
de ec s can be managed and a oided in u u e. The e o e, he ollowing ecommenda ions should be applied;
• Enligh ening a chi ec u al p o essionals ha design goes beyond jus lines and o ms bu also in ol es
u u is ic p ojec ions and adop ing a mo e open-minded app oach owa d main enance du ing he design
s ages o building. Special ca e he e o e should be aken since he design s age has a i al e ec on he amoun
o main enance wo k ha will be needed a e he building is comple ed.
• Pe o ming a hea es should in eg a e acili ies o a much wide spec um o use s. These edi ices should
no only se e as enues o pe o mances, bu should se e ec ea ional pu poses, con e encing, educa ional
and comme cial pu poses as well. This helps o a oid he negligence o a ious acili ies due o non-u iliza ion
Re e ences
[1] Syce, M. Designing o main enance. Published hesis, nelson Mandela Me opoli an Uni e si y.
[2] Olu unke, A. M. Educa ion o Main enance Cul u e in Nige ia: Implica ions o Communi y De elopmen .
In e na ional Jou nal o Sociology and An h opology, 3(8): 290-294.
[3] Eni, K. E. Aes he ic Conside a ion in Con empo a y Nige ian Thea e Design and Technology. In e na ional
Jou nal o A s and Humani ies, 2(5): 157-165.
[4] Ikpo, J. I. Main ainabili y indices o public building design. Jou nal o Building App aisal. 4: 321 - 327. Doi:
10.1057/jba.2009.2
