INTRODUCTION
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evaluating the performance and/or effectiveness of one or more
aspects of buildings in relation to issues such as accessibility,
aesthetics, cost-effectiveness, functionality, productivity, safety
and security, and sustainability.”
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This process improves the
long-term usefulness of a building while decreasing operational
costs and evaluating energy uses by continually collecting
energy and design performance measurements.
Whereas once architects ended their relationships with
buildings upon completion of construction, new roles
encompass a broader range of FPE and verification services
for the buildings they design. Z Smith, director of sustain-
ability and building performance at Eskew+Dumez+Ripple,
believes his firm and many others are starting to see post-
occupancy research and engagement as a learning oppor-
tunity as well a marketing and business opportunity.
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Firms
like Perkins and Will have their own peer-reviewed research
journal and ten labs which feature evaluations of select
buildings they have designed. HKS offers building evalu-
ations in conjunction with CADRE (Center for Advanced
Design Research Exploration), a non-profit research group
established by the firm that conducts intensive research pro-
jects focused on enhancing human and organizational well-
being.
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SmithGroup architect Greg Mella has been tracking
their award-winning Brock Center’s energy and water use
beyond the 12-month period required by the Living Building
Challenge (Side Lesson C: The Living Building Challenge),
because maintaining net zero design, understanding build-
ing performance, and aspiring to net positive aligns with the
goals of both his firm and his own knowledge.
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According
to a survey of sustainability leaders from 29 mid-size and
large architecture firms in the United States and Canada,
two-third currently conduct some type of facility evaluation.
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Moreover, almost all respondents say they would like to
complete POEs for a majority of their projects in the near
future. The document also indicates that of all the clients
who have requested or desired applying post-construction
evaluation to their facilities, the higher education indus-
try demonstrated the most interest in an evaluation of the
performance of their existing buildings. This may be due
to many factors: the high priority of enrollment, the dete-
rioration of historic facilities on many campuses, a lack of
personnel with the requisite experience, funding, skill or
knowledge in how to track the performance, or the absence
of a performance feedback mechanism.
Becoming aware of such simple practical measures via a
performance evaluation should be learned in the foundational
curricula of emerging building professionals. Buildings which
students occupy daily as a part of their scholastic experi-
ence on campus benet that institution and begin to foster
a win-win cycle of analysis, documentation and feedback to
fulll new net zero and sustainability requirements of the
building industry. Using campus facilities as educational tools
has grown to be a popular trend among universities across
the country.
Side Lesson C – 1.1:
The Living Building
Challenge is a set of
performance standards
created by the International
Living Building Institute
to ensure the construction
of sustainable and green
buildings (see https://
living-future.org/basics/).