Post-occupancy
Everyone who uses a building has a stake in how it performs, and a user-friendly building is vital if a development is to be truly sustainable. Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) can be used in the early months after handover to determine how users really feel about the building and its facilities.
The University of Plymouth website explains that POE is particularly important in buildings which utilize sustainable technologies, because innovations can only be successfully adopted if they don't have a negative impact on user comfort. As they observe, "Without POE, the sustainability of buildings in occupation may only be assumed rather than measured."
To be effective, the evaluation needs to be holistic. For instance, it needs to check that key facilities staff are fully trained, and a general staff handbook is also recommended. Of course, one of the most important aspects of the process is making sure learning is communicated back the designers, so that the evaluation becomes a tools for improvement.
As BRE note, it is advisable to discuss POE with PII providers and any other insurers who might be impacted prior to implementation.
BRE report on their research into early-stage POE at University of Plymouth information about POE |
