Wolfgang F. E. Preiser

Post‐occupancy evaluation: how to make buildings work better

Post‐occupancy evaluation (POE) is a diagnostic tool and system which allows facility managers to identify and evaluate critical aspects of building performance systematically. This system has been applied to identify problem areas in existing buildings, to test new building prototypes and to develop design guidance and criteria for future facilities. Outlines the numerous benefits of POE, including better space utilization, as well as cost and time savings. Describes a conceptual framework and evaluation data‐gathering techniques. Presents examples of the outcomes of a case study POE on a medical facility. Highlights the primary effect of a POE database development project on FM software and summarizes the outcomes of an IFMA Pilot Survey on Academic Facility Performance Feedback.

Scattered-Site Public Housing and Housing Satisfaction: Implications for the New Public Housing Program

Abstract Can public housing authorities (PHAs) raise the satisfaction levels of residents by pursuing a scattered-site policy, or by revitalizing existing “projects”? To address these and related issues, we apply both crosstabular and regression analysis to the results of 211 telephone interviews with residents of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) family housing. The crosstabular results fail to support the hypothesis that those in single-family, scattered-site units are most likely to be satisfied. However, multiple regression analysis, with other variables controlled, shows that such housing indirectly promotes satisfaction through more neighborhood social interaction. The total effect on satisfaction is minimal, however, because of the indirect path of influence. Six other factors besides public housing type promote satisfaction, either directly or indirectly: age, housing cost burden, welfare recipiency, major housing problems (inversely), satisfaction with CMHA tenant involvement p...

Intelligent office building performance evaluation

Outlines building evaluation methodology and instruments, which will facilitate comparative, cross‐cultural evaluation of the performance of a building type which is common worldwide; i.e. intelligent office buildings. States that failure to obtain feedback on building performance can have serious consequences. Focuses on post‐occupancy evaluation (POE) an evaluation methodology. Concludes that there is a need for an evaluative stance throughout the building delivery process and cycle and POE appears to be of critical importance in the area of inter‐cultural differences in order to achieve better quality intelligent buildings.

Continuous quality improvement through post‐occupancy evaluation feedback

Over the past 30 years, both the governmental and private sectors have made use of a feedback mechanism, which helps improve the quality of environments: post‐occupancy evaluation (POE) or similar systematic processes, which gauge the satisfaction with, and importance of, the designed and built environment. How does this process work, what kind of input does it require? What value, if any, does it add to the core business of an organisation? When should it be carried out, and how should the resulting data be used in enhancing the quality of existing and future buildings? Who should commission POEs and who should be in charge of developing databases, which can be used for benchmarking and the development of building performance criteria for future projects? What is the cost of these POEs in relationship to the benefits to be derived? All of these questions will be addressed in this paper.

Assessing library performance with GIS and building evaluation methods

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to report on the methodological approach taken in a project which was to create a Facilities Master Plan for the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County in the United States. Libraries are changing drastically: they function as community centers, where programs and classes are held; they provide access to the internet to socio‐economically weaker groups; and they accommodate the needs of different age groups, such as children, teens, adults and seniors.Design/methodology/approach – Innovative in the approach to the project is the combination of geographic information system (GIS) and building performance evaluation (BPE) methods. This project assigned comprehensive scores for each of the libraries and grouped them into groups of high, medium and low performing libraries. The rankings are based on composite scores made up of eight weighted performance indicators: staff survey, facility evaluation, service area, usage, building, site, staffing output, and ca...

Hospital activation: towards a process model

Activation is the process of preparing people, equipment and facilities for moving and start‐up. It is little understood, but integral to the success of facility. It starts well before and extends beyond the phases of commissioning and start‐up. Activation is described in six stages as it interacts with the traditional facility delivery cycle: long‐range planning; prioritization/budgeting; facility planning/design; facility completion; Operation; and criteria update/post‐occupancy evaluation. The outcome was a two‐volume, “user‐friendly” Activation Guide that describes activation for large complex projects in a straightforward way, and which is being used by the 172 major hospitals of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the USA. The process is generic and it could be adapted for use in activations of complex facilities in Europe.

From Linear Delivery Process to Life Cycle Phases: The Validity of the Concept of Building Performance Evaluation

The first precursors to post-occupancy evaluation (POE) started in the US with studies of dormitories in the late 1960s. Van der Ryn and Silverstein (1967) carried out case study evaluations of dormitories at the University of California, Berkley, while Hsia (1967) was doing the same at the University of Utah. At the time, they were not called post-occupancy evaluations, but they were attempts at assessing building performance from the building users’ point of view (Connell and Ostrander 1976a). Wolfgang Preiser, first editor and author, was inspired by Van der Ryn and Hsia and developed his Master’s thesis on evaluating dormitory performance at Virginia Tech (Preiser 1969). He used political science rating scales, with error rates of 3–5%, to create specific quality profiles of the three different housing types, as seen by the students.

Worldwide Survey on Architectural Research at Schools of Architecture

This paper reports on a survey of research conducted within schools of architecture in the U.S. and abroad. The context of research in architectural education in the United States is assessed and background data on the evolution and status of research in the architectural profession are provided. Previous surveys on architectural research are highlighted. Findings from the worldwide survey of architecural research are based on the three major survey categories, i.e., research topic overview, institutional profile and research assessments, and individual research project descriptions. The data from the survey is such that it begins to offer a description of research activities and their parameters rather than supporting conclusive findings.

Future visions of urban public housing

Abstract In November 1994, 75 experts on public and low-income housing from around the USA and the world came to Cincinnati, Ohio to present papers and discuss issues concerning public housing. The Forum included keynote addresses, work sessions with public-housing residents, paper presentations and thematic round-table discussions. Representatives from 29 US housing authorities and from seven other countries were present, as well as public housing practitioners and academicians. The resulting publication, Proceedings: Future Visions of Urban Public Housing , includes 55 papers on such topics as: public-housing policy; comprehensive neighbourhood planning for public housing; public housing in the urban design context; quality of design standards and guidelines for public housing; resident participation and enhanced self-sufficiency in public housing; public-housing alternatives; revitalising and rehabilitating public housing; and elderly, children (and other special populations) in public housing. 1