Applying Design Principles in University Cities - Case study: The University City for Female Students at King Saud University

The paper highlights monitoring the most important design principles in university cities by applying them to the university city for female students at King Saud University Riyadh. The research seeks to understand the relationship between the urban design elements in universities and their role in meeting users' needs to create educational environments that achieve functional efficiency and educational quality. The research used field survey tools and conducted a questionnaire for a sample targeting )108(female students, employees, and faculty members in the female university city at King Saud University in Riyadh. Data were entered quantitatively that could be measured in the statistical analysis program SPSS. The study found five theoretical design principles in university cities that achieve efficiency and educational quality: connectivity, activities, identity, sustainability, and social communication. When applying these design principles to the university city for female students at King Saud University, the study found fundamental differences in the application of most of the design elements through a field survey, questionnaire, and personal interview. The study recommended developing the urban environments in university cities in a way that contributes to stimulating knowledge production, creativity, and excellence, improving communication and movement between urban elements, and enhancing the identity of the university city in a way that reflects the culture of the place and the spirit of the university community.