Microclimate regulation mechanisms of corridor spaces in campus courtyards under hot-humid climatic conditions: an ENVI-met simulation study

University campus buildings are frequently organized in courtyard configurations, where corridors may modify airflow and solar exposure. However, the independent effects of corridor morphology on courtyard microclimates remain insufficiently understood. This study combines field measurements and ENVI-met simulations to examine four corridor modifications – removal, enclosure, increased width, and increased height – across six courtyards on a university campus in Chengdu, China. Corridor-induced air-temperature responses were generally small and seasonally differentiated. In winter, corridor removal and increased height produced statistically detectable increases in daily mean air temperature of approximately 0.076°C (p = 0.031), whereas enclosure produced a smaller, non-significant increase of 0.041°C (p = 0.094). In summer, corridor widening caused a statistically detectable but practically small decrease of 0.007°C (p = 0.031), while increased height produced virtually no change. These results indicate that corridor morphology is a secondary, seasonally differentiated, and context-dependent modifier of courtyard microclimate. The findings provide case-based evidence for climate-responsive courtyard design in comparable hot-humid contexts.