Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can Lessons Learned in Post Occupancy Evaluation be Applied?
Q: What is Post Occupancy Evaluation?
“Post Occupancy Evaluation is the systematic review of ways that buildings support work and well-being.” Chris Watson, Architect
Q: How long does an evaluation take?
A: Many evaluations take 2-5 weeks, however they depend on complexity of stakeholder interaction with the building(s) and other factors.
Q: How is an evaluation carried out?
A: The groups of people, with interests in the buildings, are interviewed in touring walkthrough interviews in and around the buildings.
Q: What is the New Zealand Method of Post Occupancy Evaluation?
Q: What topics are addressed in the evaluations?
A: The stakeholders report on building features and qualities that affect their productivity and well-being.
Q: Why do property managers commission us to conduct Post Occupancy Evaluations?
Why do property managers commission us to conduct Post Occupancy Evaluations?
Q: How is sustainability addressed in the evaluations?
A: The (unborn) stakeholders who will be affected by buildings’ environmental impact are represented by an architect (or other person qualified) to speak about the topic.
Q: Why not just survey stakeholders with a questionnaire?
A: Online questionnaires are great for simple questions. Firstly; questions in questionnaires are subjectively derived from the perspective of surveyors; not stakeholders, whereas walkthrough interviews invite responses from the (objective) building. Secondly; the ways that productivity and well-being are affected depends on a combinations of building, use and conditions. Thirdly; stakeholder groups often negotiate solutions to problems in interviews. Fourthly; the number of topics that stakeholders can address is far more than can be considered for a questionnaire. Fifthly; stakeholders groups raise topics on site that would not be apparent to them individually off-site.
Q: Have you published on this topic?
A: Wolf Preiser, Shauna Mallory-Hill and Chris Watson “Enhancing Building Performance” ISBN: 978-0-470-65759-1, Wiley, Oxford, UK, 2012
Wolfgang F. E. Preiser, Aaron T. Davis, Ashraf M. Salama, Andrea Hardy, “Architecture Beyond Criticism”, 978-0-415-72533-0, Routledge, Oxford, UK, 2014
Post Occupancy Evaluation 
