Analyzing the effects of thermal comfort and indoor air quality in design studios and classrooms on student performance

Abstract

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of the different ventilation modes on thermal comfort and indoor air quality in design studios and classrooms. It also investigates its associations with student performance. For this purpose, experimental and subjective measurements are used in both studio and classroom, in Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department at Bilkent University, Ankara. CO2 concentration, indoor temperature and humidity values are collected in both winter and summer season under the three modes of ventilation: 1) without opening door and windows mode setting; (2) natural ventilation mode and (3) the mechanical TROX school-air unit mode. The thermal comfort and IAQ was investigated through CO2 concentration and temperature and humidity in these three different ventilation modes. Under these three modes in both seasons, student performance is assessed based on concentration and attention test results. Both experimental and subjective results have shown that the mechanical TROX school-air unit mode is the most satisfactory indoor environment in terms of standards, where the highest grade of students’ concentration and attention are obtained.