Sustainability of the build environment and its impact on user performance. Case study Polis University

Abstract

The built environment is important not only for its users and owners, but also for the community and society as a hole, and yet, construction is one of the most energy consuming, destructive, and moreover material consuming industries. Deficiencies with adaptability to meet changing needs in terms of sustainability in architecture can eventually cause needless costs, environmental pressure and dissatisfaction. The aim of this study is to explore whether the circular construction and sustainability of built environments is not only a matter of reducing environmental impacts and limiting the use of non-renewable resources, but it can be successfully used to enhance of environmental protection, social equity, and economic development of a facility. Furthermore, the study tries to understand whether we can use circularity principles not only for the building to be more sustainable and in line with circular economy principles, but also be used to enhance user performance, in this specific case the performance of student and academic staff. The study was applied to Polis University and its premises. Two survey formats were specifically designed to collect data on overall functionality and comfort of Polis University facilities, as well as data on academic staff and student self assessment performance. The study emphasizes the importance of the elements of sustainable built environment, and the care that designers and builders need to achieve what is called optimal comfort and functionality of each element, keeping in mind not only end users but also environmental, social and economical aspects as a fully accomplished sustainable architecture design.