A multi-timescale post-occupancy evaluation of indoor environmental quality in an occupied university building

Abstract

Post-occupancy evaluation (POE) plays an important role across many building types in understanding how indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is experienced by occupants, including in higher education buildings, where environmental conditions can influence comfort, satisfaction, and perceived performance. This study evaluated IEQ in a higher education building using a convergent mixed-methods framework that integrated long-term environmental monitoring, spot measurements, thermographic observations, and occupant survey data. Continuous monitoring was conducted for temperature, relative humidity, and CO₂, while spot assessments documented lighting, acoustics, and particulate conditions in selected spaces. A Qualtrics-based POE survey collected responses from 68 building occupants, including students, faculty, and staff, on thermal comfort, perceived air quality, lighting, acoustics, perceived control, and overall satisfaction. The findings showed that point-in-time measurements that appeared acceptable did not always reflect the environmental conditions most consistently experienced by occupants. While many measured values remained within typical operating ranges, long-term monitoring and survey responses revealed recurring concerns related primarily to thermal comfort and perceived ventilation, with clear differences across floors and rooms shaped by heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) schedules, façade exposure, and daylight access. These results demonstrate the value of a human-centered, multi-timescale POE approach for identifying hidden performance issues and supporting more targeted building operation and IEQ improvement.