PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE FOR JOSEPH AYO BABALOLA UNIVERSITY, IKEJI-ARAKEJI, OSUN STATE, NIGERIA: INTEGRATING CROWD CONTROL STRATEGIES

In order to ensure the safety of the user, every public building design must take into account how people will interact with one another and the environment. Studies have revealed that crowding of many people in one area frequently has proven to be a circulating problem. Therefore, managing and controlling the flow of people into and around public buildings is necessary, as is planning for crowd emergency evacuation. This research intends to evaluate the methods used for strategic crowd management design with a focus on crowd control in performing arts centers. The goal is to increase safety and security by designing structures to handle big crowds during normal and extreme occurrences. The research method's approach is based on a thorough analysis of the literature, observation of particular characteristics, and actual measurement of the building components that are being assessed. The study's findings point out the shortcomings in other performing Arts center and theater building design, suggests design ideas for improved safety and security during events and emergencies in such public spaces, and develop design strategies for crowd control. This thesis found strategies for designing a performing arts center structure in Nigeria with a focus on crowd control. It also suggests that proper consideration be given to the right number of occupants per square foot in order to prevent crowd congestion which can lead to a stampede.