PurposeThe paper describes the purpose of and strategies for conducting post‐occupancy evaluations (POEs) as a method for assessing school building performance. Set within the larger context of global efforts to develop and apply common indicators of school building quality, the authors describe research conducted within the newest generation of São Paulo's schools.Design/methodology/approachThe various methods of POE, including expert walkthroughs, physical measurements, observations, behavioral mapping, user interviews, focus groups, and survey questionnaires were applied within a purposefully selected case study school.FindingsThe POE carried out at Fernando Gasparian High School revealed limitations in the building's design, particularly in light of the neighborhood context, thus raising significant concerns about safety and security. Users gave the construction quality of the building, a generally positive evaluation, however, there were some important aspects of the building design judged as deficient. In particular, researchers observed a significant mismatch between the building design and the realities of the surrounding community. This sort of incongruity introduced important challenges to principals, teachers, and staff, as they worked to ensure the safety of students who attend the school.Originality/valueThe research explores the effectiveness of POE methods in capturing user and expert assessments of overall building quality, as well as the degree to which building designs assist educators and community members in realizing Brazil's larger educational reform goals.
This article aims to describe the origins and evolution of post-occupancy evaluation (POE) activities in Brazil. This methodologv was consolidated in the Brazilian academic field in the mid-1990s. Whenever possible, parallels hetween activities carried out in this country and abroad are pointed out. Emphasis is given to the possibility of using POE to improve design quality, especially in arcbitecture, and its use in the management of designing processes. In this sense, the article shows the heneñts of POE studies applied in different types of occupancies, Specifically, a case study of school huilding is presented. Finally, a numher of conclusions are drawn regarding prognoses as to the limits of its use in the professional practice of architects, urban planners and designers. The POE's potential to provide feedback for positive design practices, bencbmarks, and for updating building codes and standards is also discussed.
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