Abstract
Secondary school buildings in tropical locations, such as Ikorodu, Lagos, present major issues in terms of thermal comfort, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), and energy efficiency. This study looks at sustainable building design solutions for improving comfort, daylighting, natural ventilation, and environmental performance in tropical educational environments. A qualitative approach was used, consisting of a comprehensive literature review and thematic analysis of research published between 2019 and 2025. The study focuses on measures such as building orientation, passive cooling, biophilic integration, material selection, shading devices, and renewable energy solutions. The results show that appropriately oriented buildings, cross-ventilation corridors, reflecting roofs, green areas, and optimal daylighting reduce heat gain and energy consumption while improving student well-being and cognitive performance. Financial restrictions, a lack of understanding, and shortages in technical capacity are all impediments to adoption. The study finds that combining passive, biophilic, and climate-responsive methods can result in more energy-efficient, comfortable, and health-promoting school environments. To address implementation issues, recommendations stress design prioritizing, material and landscape integration, renewable energy uptake, and governmental assistance.