UNILAG Architecture Students Excel at 2025 Saint-Gobain Multi-Comfort Architecture Student Contest
Three students from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Faculty of Architecture have emerged victorious at the national finals of the 2025 Saint-Gobain Multi-Comfort Architecture Student Contest, demonstrating exceptional creativity and technical skill.
philips22 
Three students from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Faculty of Architecture have emerged victorious at the national finals of the 2025 Saint-Gobain Multi-Comfort Architecture Student Contest, demonstrating exceptional creativity and technical skill.
The team, comprising Meshach Chikanso Darah, Gospel Bakare, and Oluwabusolami Adesoji, under the mentorship of Arc. Akerele Oluwaseyi, earned the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the global finals in France.
Sustainable Design Meets Global Competition
Competing against more than 200 universities from 33 countries, the UNILAG team impressed the judges with their project, Dialogue, which emphasized sustainability, flexibility, and community integration. The design sought to blur boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, fostering a meaningful architectural conversation between people, place, and culture.
The project focused on transforming the Chimilin Community Centre, an abandoned school building, into a vibrant civic space for social, educational, and cultural activities. Sustainability was at the forefront of the design, incorporating:
- Photovoltaic panels for solar energy generation
- Ground-source heat pumps for sustainable heating and cooling
- Rainwater harvesting systems
- Natural ventilation strategies to reduce mechanical energy use
The team conducted an as-built study to identify structural elements worth retaining and upgrading, minimizing demolition while modernizing the facility for community use. The result was a design that merged innovation with cultural sensitivity, turning an underutilized space into a hub for communal growth.
University Leadership Commends Achievement
On Monday, September 1, 2025, the team was formally received on the 10th floor of Senate House by Vice-Chancellor Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, alongside other members of university management. They were joined by Professor Kayode Adebayo, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, and Professor Tony Iweka, Head of Department.
Professor Ogunsola lauded the students for their ingenuity, noting that their success was a moment of pride not just for the individuals but for the university as a whole. She emphasized that their accomplishment reflects the forward-thinking innovation cultivated at UNILAG and serves as evidence that Nigerian students can excel confidently on the global stage.
The Vice-Chancellor also commended the Faculty of Architecture for sustaining a culture of excellence and international relevance, encouraging the students to continue developing their skills as leaders in sustainable design.
The event concluded with photographs of the students with the Vice-Chancellor and university management team, celebrating their achievement as champions of the 2025 Saint-Gobain Multi-Comfort Architecture Student Contest.
