Assessing Employee Satisfaction with Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in Office Spaces Using Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE): A Case Study of Administrative Offices in Bandar Abbas

Subject Areas : Space Ontology International Journal

Shayesteh Farah ¹ , Mohammad Ghomeishi ² , Hesamaddin Sotoudeh ³

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Received: 2024-11-05 Accepted : 2025-01-09

Keywords: Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE), Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), Office, Bandar Abbas, lighting, Noise, Temperature,

Abstract :

Post-occupancy evaluation is a method for assessing building performance and human needs in line with predetermined design objectives. Enhancing indoor environmental quality is one of the primary focuses of this method. This study investigates the satisfaction levels of employees in Bandar Abbas's offices with the IEQ of their workspaces using POE. It is located in the south of Iran. Thus, this study is the first to use POE to assess IEQ in administrative buildings in Iran. This city is The factors evaluated to determine IEQ include lighting, noise, temperature, and ventilation. The research questions addressed are: What is employee satisfaction with the IEQ in the administrative offices of Bandar Abbas? What are the reasons for employee dissatisfaction with the IEQ in these offices? This applied research utilizes a mixed-method approach comprising two stages: quantitative data collection and qualitative data collection. In the quantitative phase, data were collected using standardized Likert-scale questionnaires. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted to uncover the reasons behind the results obtained from the quantitative data. The results indicate that the highest satisfaction level is associated with the lighting factor, followed by temperature and ventilation, while the lowest pertains to the noise factor. Overall, dissatisfaction with the lighting factor includes the lack of windows, poor maintenance, improper building orientation, excessive room depth, small windows, and inadequate calculation of artificial lighting needs. The reasons for dissatisfaction with the noise factor include disturbing noise from others' conversations, partitioned spaces allowing noise to flow, echoing noise in the lobby, and lack of noise control. Regarding the temperature and ventilation factor, dissatisfaction includes the inability to open windows, unpleasant odors due to proximity to restrooms, lack of openings, and obstructed airflow from air conditioners due to tall partitions, poor maintenance, and inadequate window insulation.

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