Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences

A space syntax study on the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Ying Chi Tan 1
Muhammad Hafeez bin Abdul Nasir 1
Ahmad Sanusi Hassan 1
Jestin Nordin 1
Yasser Arab 2
Mohammad Dolok Lubis 3

1 School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM, Malaysia.

2 Department of Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering, Dhofar University, Oman.

3 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Sumatera Utara, 20155 Medan, Indonesia.

10.30772/qjes.2025.155809.1445
Abstract
The design of educational building has become increasingly important concurrently due to the needs interactive and engaging spaces for improved students’ academic performance. Conventional design of educational spaces invariably lack design aspects that facilitate engagement. Therefore, it has become the aim of this research to evaluate the spatial configuration a veterinary institute, based on the space syntax analysis from the spectrum of the level of wayfinding and permeability. The case study of this research is Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine an institutional building that is a globally renowned in the veterinary industry. Being at the forefront of research into animal well-being and the prevention of infectious diseases, the building's design emphasises providing cutting-edge educational spaces and fostering innovative curricula for educating future practitioners and researchers while also extending vital support to communities worldwide. The study uses the justified graph and visual graph analysis (VGA) based on DepthMapX software to identify the level of permeability and wayfinding of the designed spaces. The analysis demonstrates that a majority of the areas covered in the case study building have moderate integration levels and between high and moderate connectivity levels. Highly integrated and connected spaces are important in spatial design of educational institutions in providing allowing for cross-disciplinary collaboration and outstanding students’ engagement. In essence, the outcome of the study demonstrates the selected building typology case study building has a well-designed spatial configuration that emphasises the building’s main users.

Keywords

Veterinary Medicine
Space Syntax
DepthMapX
Justified Graph
Spatial Configuration
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Al-Qadisiyah Journal for Engineering Sciences
Volume 18, Issue 2
Spring 2025
Pages 117-125

  • Receive Date 15 July 2024
  • Revise Date 10 December 2024
  • Accept Date 15 April 2025

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