Sustainable Structural Engineering Practices in Commercial Building Development in Port Harcourt

Sustainable structural engineering practices that minimise material consumption, reduce embodied carbon, and enhance adaptability of structures are increasingly prioritised in commercial building development globally, yet their adoption in Port Harcourt's rapidly expanding commercial property sector in the South South geopolitical zone is limited. This study investigates the extent and drivers of sustainable structural engineering practices in fifteen commercial building development projects in Port Harcourt, examining the use of structural optimisation, locally sourced and recycled materials, adaptive structural systems, and lifecycle assessment as design tools. Data were collected through structured interviews with structural engineers, developers, and project managers, supplemented by review of structural design reports and sustainability statements. Sustainable practice scores were computed using a modified Green Star structural assessment rubric adapted for the Nigerian construction context. Results indicate that structural material optimisation was considered in only four of the fifteen projects, and no project had conducted a formal embodied carbon calculation. Locally sourced crushed stone aggregate was used in nine projects, representing the most commonly adopted sustainable material practice. Adaptive floor-to-floor heights and demountable partition integration, enabling future use flexibility, were incorporated in only two projects. Developer awareness of sustainable structural design principles was significantly lower than that of environmental system sustainability such as solar power and energy-efficient glazing. The study recommends embedding structural sustainability criteria within the Green Building Council of Nigeria certification framework, developer education campaigns, and university curriculum updates to include structural lifecycle assessment. Keywords: sustainable structural engineering, commercial buildings, Port Harcourt, embodied carbon, lifecycle assessment.