Post-occupancy indoor environmental quality evaluation of student housing facilities

This paper presents the findings of an indicative assessment of the existing indoor environmental qualities (i.e. thermal, acoustical, visual comfort and indoor air quality) in a representative sample of a type of student housing facility at the campus of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Published literature has been analysed to review knowledge areas pertaining to the uses and benefits of post-occupancy evaluation and indoor environmental requirements for student housing facilities. Past maintenance work orders for the building evaluated in this study have been analysed to identify frequent and major areas of complaint and discomfort for the occupants. A user satisfaction survey was developed to obtain the students' qualitative feedback on their experience with the designed indoor environment. The findings of the survey were analysed and reported to describe the degree of satisfaction with the identified performance requirements for the indoor environment. The main purpose of conducting the assessment was to determine whether or not design decisions made by design professionals provide the performance needed by the student residents. This paper is of practical value to planners, design professionals, housing administrators and facility managers involved in the planning, design and operation of such facilities. Facility managers, if involved in the early design stages of the project, should ensure that the provision and up-keep of the performance requirements presented in this paper are properly addressed in the client's brief.