ARCHITECTURAL STRATEGIES, FORMS AND ELEMENTS FOR ACOUSTIC COMFORT IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES: THE BENUE STATE LIBRARY COMPLEX, MAKURDI, NIGERIA

Public libraries serve diverse functions, including reading, digital learning, collaboration and community engagement, requiring appropriate acoustic conditions. However, inadequate integration of sound-control strategies can compromise acoustic comfort and library users’ experience. This study examines the application of architectural forms and elements for improving acoustic comfort in the proposed Benue State Library Complex, Makurdi, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining a literature review, comparative analysis of five international and local library case studies, and a structured questionnaire survey involving 222 built-environment professionals and library users. Findings indicate that building geometry, ceiling configuration, envelope treatment, sound-insulating partitions, spatial zoning and locally sourced sound-absorptive materials influence acoustic performance. Respondents rated zoned floor layouts incorporating sound-trapping vestibules (mean = 4.52), dense interior partitions (mean = 4.50) and structural envelope shielding (mean = 4.46) as important acoustic strategies. The findings highlight the relevance of controlling sound transmission, reflection and reverberation through coordinated architectural planning and material selection. The study concludes that acoustic comfort should be integrated from the conceptual design stage rather than addressed solely through post-construction interventions. It proposes an architectural framework for incorporating acoustic considerations into public library planning, with potential application to similar library projects in Nigeria’s tropical environment