PROPOSED SENATE BUILDING FOR IMO STATE UNIVERSITY, OWERRI. (Enhancing higher productivity in administration through effective space planning)

Abstract

The need for a befitting central Administrative building for any institution of higher learning and Imo State University in particular cannot be overemphasized. This is evident in the situation experienced presently at the Imo State University where conversion of mere office blocks to University administrative building is not enhancing productivity in administration and hence, increases fatigue. The student carried out this study in order to address this problem of lack of a central administrative center in Imo State University, Owerri, as the existing structures are far apart and not easy to locate by visitors. This situation from the information gathered, was as a result of the relocation of the university from the old site to the present site. This present site was designed for Federal Government Girls' College, Owerri. The university had to relocate to this site when it was displaced from the former site at Uturu, Okigwe in 1991 when Abia State was created. The methods used by the student to carry out the research were interviews with some of the senior administrative staff of the university, data collection from some published and unpublished materials and the internet, and case studies of existing administrative buildings of some universities. Hence, it was discovered that many university administrative buildings have problems relating to inadequate office and storage spaces, proximity between spaces of related functions, problems of work flow pattern, lighting and ventilation and, design of office spaces. Therefore, in this project, provisions were made of adequate and dynamic spaces in a single building that will meet all the needs of administration in the university and accommodate increasing staff strength after careful pre-design analyses.