Assessment of Building Connectivity Within Multi-Storey Public Buildings Towards Adequate Circulation in Complexes of Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

For a building complex to be user-friendly, it must possess one of the most important features of functionality, which is circulation. This for a public building complex is flexibility in movement from one building to another. This is because in such complexes no building is in isolation, hence the interaction between the building themselves and its end users. Absence of structural connections and visitors alike. These complications can reflect in terms of time and the effort it takes to move from one building to another. The study is aimed at deriving the significance of connectivity in complexes of public storey buildings in the capital city of Nigeria, Abuja. The derivative purpose of this research is to have a positive impact on the circulation pattern from one structure to another. In other to achieve this aim, primary data sources were employed. Structured questionnaires and observation schedules were also used to obtain data on physical observations, user perception and the nature of building connectivity respectively. In total 120 questionnaires were used and a 100% return rate was recorded. The study areas are six in number hence this translates to 20 questionnaires per study area. Also, the observation schedule used looked at 21 different issues in each study area. The data obtained was processed with SPSS and Microsoft Excel. From the results obtained it was understood that connectivity in public buildings hugely affects the efficiency and time management of the end users in such buildings. This study hence recommended that public buildings within complexes should be linked at all floors with well-designed, safe, and secured suspended walkways or sky bridges in other to facilitate building movement on the same floor.