Purpose – The aim of this study was to investigate the factors which define and predict the satisfaction of first-time residential clients of architects in Nigeria using Lagos as a case study. Design/methodology/approach – The study was based on the notion that satisfaction of first-time residential clients with architectural services is a combination of satisfaction with service, design and relationship qualities as well as reputation of the architect. A cross-sectional survey of randomly selected first-time residential clients of architects in the study area was conducted using pre-tested questionnaire as the principal data gathering instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, factor and regression analyses. Findings – Of the seven factors identified, the factors which best define the satisfaction of the first-time residential clients were personalization of service, reliability of, confidence inspired by and personality of the architect. The best predictors of the satisfaction of the first-time residential clients of architects in Nigeria varied with the nature of service. However, it was observed that the experience of the architect cut across all service types as a significant predictor of client satisfaction. Research limitation/implication – Only residential clients were considered in the study. Other categories of clients may be considered in further studies. Practical implications – There is need for architects to consider the nature of services provided in their quest to satisfy their first-time residential clients. Originality/value – Previous studies have focused on experienced and mostly public sector clients. This study provides empirical data on the factors that influence the satisfaction of first-time private clients who engaged the services of architects for their personal homes.

Scholars have agreed that the way in which students perceive their learning environments influences their academic performance. Empirical studies that focus on architecture students, however, have been very scarce. This is the gap that an attempt is filled in this study. A questionnaire survey of 273 students in a school of architecture in Nigeria provided data for this pilot study. The perceptions of the students were best defined by the involvement of the students in their studies, the perceived support, and conduciveness of the learning environment. The students' perceptions of their learning environment varied with their years of study, age and gender. Their perceptions of inflexibility of schedule, positive assessment, and fairness influenced the overall grades of students. The results suggests which aspects of learning environment that can be manipulated by architectural educators to improve the performance of their students. The study of the learning environment of architecture students still appears to be relatively unexplored. The value of this study therefore lies in its exploration of the perceptions of the learning environment from the point of view of students.

Abstract

Scholars have suggested that employee engagement depends on their personal attributes, as well as the work contexts and human resources management practices of organizations. Little study however exists in professional firm contexts. This study set out to investigate the influence of work context, employee attributes and human resource management practices on the job engagement of employees, taking samples from architectural firms, where employees are considered as core resources. Data for this survey were obtained with the use of questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Moderate level of job engagement was found among the employees. The level of engagement was mostly predicted by the human resource practices and employees' personal attributes. In particular, feedback from principal and clear job description were found to be core human resource management practices that architectural firms can leverage to enhance employee job engagement. Flexible work practices like lunch arrangements, work hours and autonomy were found to also influence job engagement among the architects. This study fills the gap in the literature on the need to fully understand the concept of job engagement in the context of architectural professional service firms, where such study is sparse.

Low energy houses are forms of housing that use less energy from the design, technologies and building products from any source than a traditional or average contemporary house. The survey dataset examines architect׳s awareness and adoption of building envelope technologies (BET) for energy efficient housing in Lagos State, Nigeria. The dataset was based on seventy-four (74) returned questionnaires of both registered and non-registered Architects. A multistage sampling that involved cluster sampling and random sampling of architects in Lagos State was adopted. Descriptive statistical tools were used to present the dataset. The dataset contains the intent of promoting energy sustainability by architect while designing their building envelopes, the awareness of the building envelope strategies to adopt, factors influencing their adoption of these strategies, strategies that can be adopted to improve adoption of building envelope technologies for energy efficiency in housing units. The dataset can be used for evolving housing energy policy by decision makers.