INVESTIGATE THE EFFECT OF BUILDING DESIGN DEFICIENCIES ON POST-OCCUPATIONAL MAINTENANCE COSTS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN ENUGU METROPOLIS

Chukwu Chinaechetam(Department of Architecture, Godfrey Okoye University)

Abstract

The study investigates the effect of Building Design Deficiencies on Post-Occupational Maintenance Costs in Public Buildings in Enugu Metropolis. The specific objectives of this study were to examine the effect of inadequate structural support (ISS) on Post-Occupational Maintenance Costs in Public Buildings and assess the effect of low integration of owner-occupier needs-expectations on Post-Occupational Maintenance Costs in Public Buildings in Enugu Metropolis. The study adopted a descriptive survey methodology. Data collection was facilitated using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included both yes-or-no questions and items measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS 28.0. The result revealed that Inadequate structural support (ISS) has a significant positive effect on Post-Occupational Maintenance Costs in Public Buildings in Enugu Metropolis. And Low integration of owner-occupier needs-expectation has a significant positive effect on Post-Occupational Maintenance Costs in Public Buildings in Enugu Metropolis. The study concluded that reducing maintenance costs in Enugu’s public buildings requires a deliberate shift toward design-stage prevention: ensuring robust structural adequacy and embedding owner-occupier requirements into design decisions through systematic stakeholder engagement. The study recommended that Development control and procuring agencies should require full compliance with applicable structural codes, loading standards, and detailing requirements, particularly for public-use buildings with high occupancy and heavy usage.

Keywords

Building, Deficiencies, Design, Maintenance, Post-Occupational

References

Ayodele S. A., Cyril A. A., Timothy T. O., and Oluwafemi T. A. (2024). Apost-occupancy evaluation of students’ halls of residence in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Academia.edu, Vol 39, Issue 2, PP 163-179

Aladi M., Aminuddin, F. A., Misnan, M. S., & Mustaffa, N. E. (2024). Construction defects and their classifications in the construction phase of building projects – a review. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS). No 2454-6186, vol 8 issue 2.

Ayoobi, A.W., Inceoğlu, M. & Inceoğlu, G. (2024). A next-generation holistic building design framework: a focus on integrating sustainable and vernacular design principles. Smart Constr. Sustain. Cities 2, 18.

Bagdiya N. V. and Wadalkar S. (2015). Review Paper on Construction Defects. IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE) Volume 12, Issue 2 Ver. III, PP 88-91.

Baker, J., and Oppewal, H. (2023). The effects of floor plan representations on preferences for apartments. J Hous and the Built Environ 38, 727–752.

Jiboye, A. D. (2012). Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Residential Satisfaction in Lagos, Nigeria: Feedback for Residential Improvement. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 1, 236-243

Disu, O. (2025). Experimental study on the buildability of 3D-printed cement. Construction and Building Materials.

Fung J. F., Siamak S., David T. B., and Steven L. M. (2021). The Total Costs of Seismic Retrofits: State of the Art. Earthquake Spectra. 37(4).

Odeyemi O. S, Giwa, Z. T, and Abdulwahab R. (2019). ‘Building Collapse in Nigeria (2009- 2019), Causes and Remedies – A Review’. Journal of Science and Engineering Production 1 (1): 122–35

Owl Griffin. (2024). Pukkelpop tragedy: stage collapse analysis. Retrieved from Owl Griffin.com.

Ogunbayo, B., Ogunbayo, I., & Oyedele, L. (2018). Post occupancy evaluation of residential satisfaction in Lagos megacity: The case of Lekki Peninsula Scheme I. Journal of Building Engineering, 18, 395-406.

Saidu I., Alumbugu P. O., Abdul A. A., and Wasiu A. O. (2015): Assessment of the Effect of Plan Shapes on Cost of Institutional Buildings in Nigeria. International Journal of Science and Engineering, volume 4, no. 3 pp. 39-50.

Silvija, B., Kauko, V., & Jurgita, S. (2018). The concept of housing satisfaction and its measurement indicators: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Strategic Property Management, 22(3), 173-188.

Stryker Slev. (2024). What are common construction defects? Retrieved from Stryker Slev website

Tayeh B. A., Maqsoom A. Aisheh Y. I. B., ·Almanassra M., Salahuddin H., Qureshi M. I. (2020). Factors affecting defects occurrence in the construction stage of residential buildings in the Gaza Strip. SN Applied Sciences, 2:167.

Ubani, O. J., & Achi, B. (2021). Residents’ post-occupancy housing satisfaction among various dwellings. Journal of Humanities and Social Policy. Vol 7. No. 1

Yap, J.B.H., and Skitmore, M. (2017). Investigating Design Changes in Malaysian Building Projects. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 14(3), 1-21.

Yıldız, N., & Türkmen, A. (2023). A study on user satisfaction with the configuration of housing interior spaces. Gazi University Journal of Science, Pat B. 11(1): 121-137

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26549/frae.v9i1.35221