Muizz O. Sanni-Anibire

Post-Occupancy Evaluation of Housing Facilities: Overview and Summary of Methods

AbstractAlthough post-occupancy evaluation (POE) is an old tool with hundreds of studies, it is yet to become routine in the housing industry. The growing complexity of buildings and emerging trends in the industry further reinforces the need to carry out more POE studies. Though some studies exist, a holistic approach is yet to be given priority in the industry. This paper presents an overview of POE; it presents a broad introduction, levels of investigation, POE methods, performance elements related to the housing context, and POE tools and frameworks. It also highlights key benefits to be derived from a POE and barriers forestalling its adoption in the industry. The goal of this paper is to provide a foundation and source of reference for current research in housing evaluation studies.

Holistic Postoccupancy Evaluation Framework for Campus Residential Housing Facilities

AbstractThis paper presents a holistic postoccupancy evaluation (POE) framework and its application to a campus residential facility. The development of a framework was based on an extensive review of literature and an identification of a comprehensive set of performance indicators. Multiple evaluation techniques were employed, including the review of existing documents, interviews, walkthroughs, questionnaire surveys, and spot measurements. The importance-satisfaction (IS) matrix was utilized to identify building performance successes and failures. The study shows that occupants are moderately satisfied with their residential environment. Specific issues identified were related to HVAC and lighting systems, among others. The holistic POE framework will help to derive more qualitative feedback in housing evaluation studies for more reliable decision making. This study bridges the research gap for the need for more holistic forms of POE in the facilities management sector. The recommendations provided in t...

Quality assessment of student housing facilities through post-occupancy evaluation

ABSTRACT This research employs the use of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to assess the quality of an existing conglomerate of student housing facilities in a university campus in Saudi Arabia. The assessment methods used include walkthroughs, questionnaire surveys and focus group meetings. The key performance issues identified include the performance and control of thermostats, quality of building support services, size of rooms, furniture and proximity to the cafeteria. Quality score calculations showed that the design quality and indoor environmental quality were moderate, while building support services was of low quality. This study provides recommendations to serve as feedback, and feed forward, to improve the design and management of student housing facilities. Thus the research has practical value to potential stakeholders in the design, construction and management of these facilities.

An integrated fire safety assessment of a student housing facility

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated approach to fire safety assessment, through combining the outcomes of a checklist tailored to the requirements of the International Building Code (IBC), and an evacuation simulation tool (EVACNET4), applied to a student housing facility as case study. Design/methodology/approach – The authors reviewed relevant literature and previous studies pertaining to fire safety assessment and management. An assessment checklist was developed according to the requirements of the IBC. EVACNET4 simulation tool was utilized to model the evacuation of the facility under review. The results derived from the aforementioned steps were correlated to identify potential corroborating or conflicting issues pertaining to the safe evacuation of building occupants in the occurrence of a fire incident. Findings – Fire safety provisions were found to be adequate, and the building can be evacuated safely in about 190 seconds, should a fire occur. The architectural design...

Weighted Evaluation Method for Corporate Real Estate Site Selection in Saudi Arabia

AbstractSite selection of corporate real estate (CRE) is a key consideration in optimizing an organization’s profitability and consequently ensuring its overall success. Thus, site selection for CR...

Post occupancy evaluation of a flexible workplace facility in Saudi Arabia

Purpose This paper aims to present an assessment of user satisfaction of an innovative workplace design, otherwise known as flexible workplaces. Design/methodology/approach The study first sought to establish the level of flexibility of the workplace through the identification of flexibility criteria presented in a checklist format. In total, 29 criteria were identified and subsequently assigned weights by ten professionals. These professionals further assessed a case study office building through a walkthrough exercise to determine its level of flexibility. Furthermore, a post occupancy evaluation (POE) was conducted to assess the level of users’ satisfaction with functional performance elements. Questionnaire surveys were administered to 142 users, with a 63 per cent response rate. The feedback was analyzed and presented using the mean satisfaction index approach. Findings The results showed that the total flexibility achieved by the facility is 67.63 per cent, which is considered to be “averagely flexible”. The POE results also showed that users were strongly dissatisfied (SD) with the “adequate number of enclosed offices,” which is one of the corner-stones of flexibility where open-plan offices are strongly encouraged. Users expressed dissatisfaction with other issues, while their overall satisfaction with the facility was noted. Originality/value This study is based on the premise that innovative workplace facilities will only fulfill its intended objectives if designers consider the satisfaction of its users. The study makes a specific contribution in the assessment of workplace flexibility and occupants’ satisfaction of flexible workplaces. This will be of significant value to facility managers, designers and space planners involved in the design and management of workplace facilities.

Adoption and implementation of BIM – case study of a Saudi Arabian AEC firm

The adoption of building information modeling (BIM) technology in the global architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries is steadily increasing. However, developing countries such as Saudi Arabia are still lagging behind. The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for BIM adoption in the AEC industry in Saudi Arabia through a case study.,The study adopted a two-pronged approach. First, the various stages, benefits and challenges of BIM implementation in a local AEC firm’s pilot project were documented. Then, a BIM maturity measurement of the pilot project was conducted, and identification of the areas where improvements can be made.,BIM implementation provided several benefits and efficiency gains. These include a faster design processes, effective reuse of information and overall client satisfaction. Challenges faced include a lack of interest by clients and industry stakeholders, inadequate experience of the BIM team, and lack of mentorship from a BIM champion. The findings of the BIM maturity measurement were presented as an implementation framework in the five process areas and ten subject areas of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) project management framework.,Though, frameworks, guidelines and protocols have been developed to facilitate the successful adoption of BIM, the issue is not a case of “one size fits all.” This study thus introduces the much needed awareness in the research and professional domain in Saudi Arabia. It also presents the proposed framework in the PMI framework, which is an incremental innovation to previous work.

A code-compliance framework for fire safety in student housing facilities

The purpose of this paper is to present the development and implementation of a qualitative, code-compliance framework for property managers of student housing facilities.,The paper identified the fire safety code requirements for student housing facilities and arranged these requirements in the form of a checklist, which was further validated by professional experts. Additionally, the paper presented an IDEF0 (Integrated Definition for Function Modeling) framework model that illustrates a stepwise process for the deployment of the checklist. A case study was conducted on three similar student housing facilities in a university campus to demonstrate the application of the framework. Furthermore, the findings from the case study were reported along with recommendations to improve the degree of compliance with the requirements of fire safety codes.,The developed framework was validated by professional experts and through a case study. Fire safety provisions were mostly found to be adequate in the case study building. The authors proposed several actions to improve the current status of fire safety in the building.,The paper serves to disseminate awareness about the occurrence of fires, their severe consequences and precautionary measures in student housing facilities. It also provides a standardized checklist for ease of use by property managers who may be unable to understand the technical terminologies found in fire safety codes and standards. Thus, the developed framework is of tangible value to property managers, building specialists and student housing administrators.

Performance-based fire safety evacuation of an auditorium facility using a theoretical calculation method

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a theoretical calculation for the emergency evacuation of an auditorium facility managed by a university in Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach The authors reviewed the published literature to identify the sources of fire incidence, guidelines for means of escape in assembly occupancies and human behavior in fire emergencies. The theoretical method of the SFPE handbook to estimate the required evacuation time was subsequently applied to a case study of an auditorium facility managed by a university located in Saudi Arabia. Finally, the authors developed recommendations for the performance-based fire safety evacuation of the auditorium facility under review. Findings The study showed that a total of 6 minutes 39 seconds is needed to evacuate the whole auditorium. However, reviewed literature for assembly occupancies requires between 4 minutes 30 seconds and 6 minutes 24 seconds for total evacuation. Though, the calculated evacuation time is close to generally acceptable limits. It was noted that overcrowding and bottlenecks may be formed in some of the exit routes. Originality/value This paper will stimulate and increase research and industry concern for performance-based design of assembly-type facilities. This will be of significant value to designers, engineers, facilities managers, and owners in ensuring the safety of occupants in assembly-type facilities.

Factors affecting building services’ coordination during the design development and review stages

The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the factors affecting building services’ coordination during the design development and review stages of building projects.,Literature review and interviews were conducted to identify the factors affecting building services’ coordination. In total, 36 factors were identified under six categories: planning phase of the project; design of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems; construction of MEP systems; operation and maintenance of MEP systems; owner; and design team and tools used. This formed the basis of a questionnaire survey designed utilizing a 5-point Likert scale of importance. The survey was assessed by practitioners in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.,The top five factors include the scale and complexity of the project, the level of experience of the design team, the quality of the preliminary/conceptual design of the building project, the clarity of the requirements and objectives provided by the owner, the allotted budget for the project and communication skills of the design team members. A high level of agreement between A/E professionals and contractors, and between contractors and facility managers was noted. The research provides the ranking of the identified factors for prioritization.,The paper provides stakeholders in the building services industry with the ranks of the factors that affect building services’ coordination.,The study provided a significant contribution to research and industry, especially in the regional context, where few studies have been conducted. The findings of the study will help in the reduction of construction wastes, delays and cost over-runs.