F.G.P: Optimizing Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Educational Environments : Redesigning the Outdoor Space of the Institute of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Blida 1

Abstract

As global climate conditions continue to change, the need to enhance outdoor thermal comfort in educational settings has become increasingly urgent. Rising temperatures, intensifying urban heat island effects, and the lack of climate-responsive design pose serious challenges to the usability and quality of open spaces in university environments. In hot and semi-arid regions such as Algeria, outdoor thermal discomfort can significantly affect student well-being, learning experiences, and social interaction, especially in exposed courtyards and circulation areas that lack appropriate environmental moderation. This study focuses on the courtyard of the Institute of Architecture and Urbanism at Saad Dahlab University – Blida 1, which suffers from intense solar exposure, inadequate vegetation, minimal shading, and unoptimized surface materials. Although such courtyards are intended to support movement, relaxation, and informal learning, their design often fails to account for local climatic challenges, resulting in spaces that are underused during periods of high thermal stress and perceived discomfort. The objective of this research is to assess and improve outdoor thermal comfort through passive design strategies tailored to the site’s microclimatic context. The goal is to enhance user experience, increase space utilization, and promote a more comfortable educational environment that supports health, engagement, and academic productivity. The research is grounded in thermal comfort theory, with a particular focus on how vegetation and green infrastructure, shading and passive solar design, urban morphology and wind flow optimization, and water-based cooling strategies influence outdoor microclimates in educational institutions. The methodology combines a literature review on outdoor thermal comfort parameters and best practices with a detailed analysis of the current conditions of the university courtyard. The study utilizes digital microclimate simulations using ENVI-met software. Various design scenarios are modeled to test the thermal impact of different interventions, including increased vegetation coverage, the addition of shading devices, the introduction of water features, and the use of reflective or permeable materials. Thermal comfort is evaluated through key indices such as PET (Physiological Equivalent Temperature), PMV (Predicted Mean Vote), SET* (Standard Effective Temperature), and UTCI (Universal Thermal Climate Index), which are widely used in environmental design research. The results demonstrate that combining vegetation, shading structures, water and cooling strategies, and appropriate material choices can lead to a significant reduction in perceived heat stress. The simulations show a clear improvement in thermal comfort levels during peak summer hours, with some areas shifting from extreme heat stress to moderate or comfortable conditions. This study contributes to climate-adaptive campus design by offering a replicable framework that integrates ecological and passive solutions to improve outdoor environments in hot climate universities.