Application of adaptive thermal comfort in mechanically conditioned learning environments in Berlin, Germany

• Outdoor temp showed a stronger correlation with AMV (0.34) than indoor air temp (0.27). • Adaptive comfort may apply beyond naturally ventilated and mixed-mode buildings. • Results indicate adaptive thermal responses in fully mechanically conditioned spaces. • The 10-day running mean outdoor temp exerted the strongest influence on AMV (R² = 0.13) • Gender and time spent in the building affected AMV, while age, CO₂, and seating did not. Despite extensive thermal comfort research, the applicability of adaptive comfort to mechanically conditioned educational spaces remains insufficiently investigated. This study examines thermal comfort perceptions in mechanically conditioned lecture theatres, focusing on the potential applicability of adaptive models in fully conditioned spaces. It evaluates the influence of various parameters, including outdoor temperature, on AMV. A mixed-method approach combining environmental measurements and occupant surveys was applied in a large lecture theatre at TU Berlin. In total, 299 surveys were collected from students across eight courses. Results reveal significant discrepancies (1.05 units) between PMV and AMV, with indoor air temperature moderately correlated with AMV (r = 0.27), while outdoor temperature shows stronger influences (r = 0.34). Findings indicate that outdoor conditions affect thermal perception even in mechanically conditioned spaces, with the 10-day average outdoor temperature showing the strongest effect. This highlights the potential applicability of adaptive models, although current standards restrict their use to naturally ventilated or mixed-mode spaces. The study also reveals negligible correlations between AMV and age (r = 0.04), CO₂ concentration (r = −0.14), number of occupants (r = −0.10), or seat location (r = −0.09), while gender (r = 0.21) and time spent in the building (r = −0.21) show stronger influences. Female students report AMV values 0.14 units lower on average, and longer building occupancy is associated with lower thermal sensation. Results underscore the need for updated thermal comfort models that capture the transient, adaptive nature of academic spaces and account for both indoor and outdoor climatic factors.