11.4.8 Planning development - new build standards

Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) has standards in place to build new buildings to sustainable standards. By 2025, the university planned every new build and renovation through its design service standards and wrote sustainability requirements, including energy conservation, universal design and compliance with building law, into the Terms of Reference (TOR) for each project. In 2025, SWU also generated clean energy from rooftop solar panels on its Central Library and monitored the building’s energy use in real time.

1) New build standards: Design Service Standards Manual

SWU uses the Design Service Standards Manual, prepared in March 2022 by the Planning and Strategy Division, Office of the President, as the guiding framework for all new construction and development projects. The manual sets out the design process in three stages: architectural programming, preliminary design and construction drawings. It covers site analysis, space planning, the selection of construction and finishing materials, and the preparation of budget estimates, so that every project plan is complete, functional and in line with the university’s long-term sustainability goals.

Source: https://planning.op.swu.ac.th/Portals/28/File/physicalplan/Manaul_DesignService.pdf

2) Sustainability requirements in the Terms of Reference (TOR)

For every new construction or renovation project, SWU writes its design and construction requirements into the TOR. For example, the TOR for the design of the renovation of the Student Activity and Service Center and its surrounding landscape at the Ongkharak campus, prepared by the SWU Sustainable Development Division with a construction budget of 50,000,000 baht, requires that:

the design follows the Building Control Act B.E. 2522 (1979), international standards and the relevant laws in the area where the university is located;

the design takes into account energy conservation principles, in line with the laws and regulations on energy conservation; and

the design follows the relevant regulations, laws and standards and provides universal design, so that the building can be used well by people with disabilities and older people. The renovated building now houses the Co-working space at the Ongkharak campus, shown in Section 4.

3) Energy-efficient buildings and public access to university facilities

In 2025, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) promoted sustainable infrastructure development by improving building energy efficiency and supporting the use of clean energy to reduce environmental impacts and contribute to long-term sustainability. As part of its commitment to social inclusion and community engagement, the university also provided free public access to its library facilities, enabling local residents and community members to benefit from educational resources and learning spaces without charge. These initiatives reflect SWU’s commitment to environmental sustainability, equitable access to knowledge, and the development of an inclusive and sustainable campus.

The SWU Central Library has rooftop solar panels with a capacity of 99.45 kWp and an energy monitoring dashboard that shows, in real time, the power drawn from solar panels and from the grid, the energy used on each floor, and the share used for air-conditioning, equipment and lighting. On 30 October 2025, for example, the dashboard showed that solar panels were supplying 20.1% of the building’s power at 11:02, with 68.4 kWh of solar energy produced that day.

4) Sustainable design of the renovated Co-working space at Ongkharak campus

In 2025, Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) promoted sustainable building practices through the renovation of a co-working space at its Ongkharak Campus, Nakhon Nayok Province. The co-working space is located in the Student Activity and Service Center, and its renovation followed the TOR described in Section 2, which requires compliance with the Building Control Act, energy conservation principles and universal design. The initiative reflects the University’s commitment to environmentally responsible infrastructure, sustainable resource management, and the creation of inclusive learning environments.

The renovated co-working space was developed with consideration for sustainable building design principles, emphasizing energy efficiency, natural lighting, ventilation, and the responsible use of resources to minimize environmental impacts. As shown in the photos below, the building has large glass windows around its walls and openings at the top of the roof that bring in daylight, and a large ceiling fan that moves air through the open hall. The facility provides a modern, comfortable, and collaborative environment that supports learning, creativity, and knowledge exchange among students and university staff.

This initiative demonstrates SWU’s commitment to integrating environmental sustainability into campus infrastructure development while enhancing the quality of educational facilities and promoting a greener, more inclusive, and sustainable university community.