Short answer

Incorporate south-facing orientations for school courtyards to leverage natural environmental benefits for thermal comfort and air quality.

Field: Human Factors
Source: Civil Engineering Journal (2025)
Method: Simulation-based qualitative research
Evidence: Strong effect

Strategic orientation of school courtyards, particularly towards the south, can significantly improve occupant thermal comfort and indoor air quality by optimizing temperature, airflow, and reducing CO₂ concentrations. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Civil Engineering Journal. Using Simulation-based qualitative research, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Incorporate south-facing orientations for school courtyards to leverage natural environmental benefits for thermal comfort and air quality.

Study

Human FactorsNew This WeekStrong effect

South-facing school courtyards enhance thermal comfort and air quality by up to 1.9°C and improve airflow.

Civil Engineering Journal · 2025

Key Findings

01South-facing courtyards resulted in outdoor air temperature reductions of 0.53–1.13°C in September and 1.1–1.9°C in March compared to ambient conditions.
02South orientation facilitated better airflow and improved thermal comfort (PET).
03CO₂ concentration analysis indicated healthier air quality in south-facing courtyards.
04Even small temperature differences, when scaled to building mass, can impact energy demand and comfort.

Application

Design takeaway

Incorporate south-facing orientations for school courtyards to leverage natural environmental benefits for thermal comfort and air quality.

How to apply

When designing new educational buildings or renovating existing ones, conduct orientation studies for courtyards and other open spaces to maximize thermal comfort and air quality benefits.

Project actions

01When designing a space, think about which way it faces (its orientation) and how that affects temperature and air.
02Use simulation tools to test different orientations before finalizing a design.

Method & Evidence

AimTo evaluate the impact of school courtyard orientation on thermal comfort (PET), air temperature, and CO₂ concentration.

MethodSimulation-based qualitative research

ProcedureENVI-met software was used to simulate the thermal conditions and air quality of a school building with its courtyard oriented in four cardinal directions. Simulations were conducted for two specific dates representing different seasons (March and September).

ContextEducational buildings, specifically school courtyards.

Variables

IVCourtyard orientation (North, South, East, West).

DVMass temperature (Tm), outdoor air temperature, Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), CO₂ concentration, airflow.

CVSchool building design, simulation dates (March 21, September 21), simulation software (ENVI-met).

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Uses simulation software for controlled environmental analysis.
+Evaluates multiple environmental comfort factors (temperature, PET, CO₂, airflow).

Limitations

Simulations are an approximation of reality. Actual results can be affected by local weather patterns, surrounding buildings, and the specific materials used.

Reliability & validity

The study's validity relies on the accuracy of the ENVI-met software and the representativeness of the chosen simulation dates. Reliability would be enhanced by repeating simulations with varied microclimatic inputs.

Think critically

How might the benefits of a south-facing orientation be counteracted by other environmental factors, such as excessive solar gain in hotter climates, and how could design strategies mitigate these potential downsides?

Design Principles

"Optimize building form and orientation to harness passive environmental benefits for occupant comfort and energy efficiency."

Understanding how building orientation impacts environmental factors within educational spaces is crucial for creating healthier and more comfortable learning environments. This insight informs architectural design decisions that can lead to reduced energy consumption and improved well-being for students and staff.

What This Means for Your Design

Putting school courtyards on the south side of buildings can make them more comfortable and have better air by making the air cooler and flow better.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing how the orientation of your design impacts user comfort and environmental conditions.
2.Use the findings to justify your design choices related to building placement and open space design.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The orientation of external spaces, such as courtyards, significantly influences occupant thermal comfort and air quality. Research by Salameh and Touqan (2025) demonstrated that south-facing school courtyards could reduce outdoor air temperatures by up to 1.9°C and improve airflow, leading to a healthier environment. This highlights the importance of considering orientation as a fundamental passive design strategy to enhance user well-being and reduce energy demands in educational settings.

Source

Civil Engineering Journal

Improving Thermal Comfort and Air Quality: PET and CO₂ Evaluation of School Courtyard’s Orientation

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about south-facing school courtyards enhance thermal comfort and air quality by up to 1.9°c and improve airflow?: Incorporate south-facing orientations for school courtyards to leverage natural environmental benefits for thermal comfort and air quality. Evidence: Civil Engineering Journal (2025).
Why does "South-facing school courtyards enhance thermal comfort and air quality by up to 1.9°C and improve airflow." matter for design?: Understanding how building orientation impacts environmental factors within educational spaces is crucial for creating healthier and more comfortable learning environments. This insight informs architectural design decisions that can lead to reduced energy consumption and improved well-being for students and staff.
How can designers apply this research?: Incorporate south-facing orientations for school courtyards to leverage natural environmental benefits for thermal comfort and air quality.
What were the main findings?: South-facing courtyards resulted in outdoor air temperature reductions of 0.53–1.13°C in September and 1.1–1.9°C in March compared to ambient conditions.. South orientation facilitated better airflow and improved thermal comfort (PET).. CO₂ concentration analysis indicated healthier air quality in south-facing courtyards.. Even small temperature differences, when scaled to building mass, can impact energy demand and comfort.
What research method was used?: Simulation-based qualitative research.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Civil Engineering Journal.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing new educational buildings or renovating existing ones, conduct orientation studies for courtyards and other open spaces to maximize thermal comfort and air quality benefits.
What are the limitations?: The study relies on simulation data, and real-world performance may vary due to microclimatic factors and building material specifics not fully captured in the model. The specific school building design used in the simulation may not be universally applicable.