<![CDATA[Student Activity Centres (SACs) are vital for holistic student development, providing platforms for social interaction, intellectual exchange, and recreation. In the hot-dry climate of Nigeria, the architectural design of these centres must respond to bioclimatic challenges while meeting evolving user expectations. This study, therefore, investigates the architectural factors that enhance user satisfaction within SACs in this specific climatic context, guided by two research questions: What are the key architectural factors influencing satisfaction, and what preferences do users assign to them? A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires, visual surveys, and focus group interviews across two case studies at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Data from 194 respondents were analysed using descriptive statistics, mean scores (M), and the Relative Importance Index (RII). The results delineate six critical factor categories: Spatial Organization, Service Quality, Maintenance Mechanism, Morphological Configuration, Social Factors, and Physical Environment. A significant finding was a pronounced sense of exclusion among female users (59.8% felt activities did not favour their gender, vs. 16.7% among males). User preferences strongly favoured the incorporation of outdoor social spaces and modern amenities like movie theatres and advanced gaming facilities. The study concludes that in Nigeria’s hot-dry climate, a user-centric and climatically-responsive design approach, which prioritizes the identified factors, integrates passive cooling strategies, and addresses gender inequity, is paramount for enhancing satisfaction and ensuring the relevance and sustainability of SACs.]]>
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