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Presentation 2: POE for Understanding Strengths and Weaknesses of Buildings in Use
Chris Watson, Architect, People Environment Studies Ltd and Keith Thomson, Scottish Executive
Chris Watson provided an introduction to his approach to POE by explaining the basic principles and methodology illustrated by examples from various case studies.
Benefits
POE will make occupants feel that their views are valued and form part of problem resolution. Clients will find that it promotes co-operation and tolerance in a non-threatening way, demonstrates complexity and respect for users' views, and is fast, easy and cost-efficient. POE also provides benefits to project teams in terms of illustrating successes, defining problems, engendering respect and maximising learning.
Methodology
The principal methodology used by Chris is to facilitate 'walk-through interviews' with groups of participants on site. This provides a fast and thorough way of recording stakeholders' views. At the end of the fieldwork, the comments from all groups are arranged under a series of common issues which generate recommendations for action. Comments are listed as quotes and are un-edited, as far as possible, to promote transparency. Pictures taken during the walkthrough sessions help to illustrate the issues raised. Additional methods of POE include surveys, forums and observations.
Results
Examples of themes which have frequently emerged in previous POE exercises are:
- Access to facilities
- Thermal comfort and air quality
- Ambience and atmosphere
- Acoustic issues
- Design and construction defects
More recently, POE has also developed an increasingly important role in helping to assess the sustainability credentials of buildings in use.
Case studies
Chris described the process of conducting a POE of Marlborough Technology Centre, a rural school in Australia. The evaluation involved 48 participants which included students, staff, parents, managers, education specialists and the project team. The evaluation generated responses relating to over 50 issues such as playground facilities, staff facilities, cleaning and maintenance, windows and sub-floor ventilation.
Chris finished by presenting some of the findings from a POE of Craigour Park Primary School in Edinburgh (the demonstration POE included in the Scottish Executive's evaluation guidance).
This evaluation involved 35 stakeholders from 6 groups, including staff, pupils, parents and education officials. Responses were balanced, with very positive comments regarding the design of the principal teaching spaces, but there were some problems concerning issues such as security arrangements, lunch queuing and data projection.
A Scottish Executive perspective
Keith Thomson, from the School Estate branch in the Scottish Executive, had observed two POEs conducted by Chris Watson. While the Scottish Executive's guidance makes it clear that it is up to local authorities to decide on the scope and type of evaluation for their particular needs, Keith noted there were certain aspects (listed below) of Chris's POE approach which support good stakeholder consultation - a key principle of the School Estate Strategy in Scotland.
1. The method is flexible and accessible:
- Authorities can control the scope of each study
- No technical knowledge is required by participants
- No prior knowledge of the school is required by participants
2. It involves a participatory approach which can:
- Support wider educational goals for students
- Enhance school ethos for building users
- Increase school-community links
3. The approach is simple and efficient in that:
- No pre-set agenda avoids wasting time and energy
- The building itself illustrates and promotes issues for discussion
- The presentation method is inclusive, transparent and effective
Lessons from Lisbon
Keith finished the presentation by drawing upon some lessons learned from an international meeting on School Building POE (held in June 2005 in Lisbon, Portugal) organised by the OECD's Programme on Educational Building. The purpose of the meeting was to gather perspectives of school POE methodologies, and investigate whether some form of international standard for evaluation could be implemented to measure the quality of school buildings. There was discussion about which principles of assessing quality in school buildings could be shared between countries, and what criteria could be used to measure these principles. Keith's view was that it seems a realistic prospect to identify some common principles such as sustainability, environmental issues, flexibility, and community use. However, the criteria to measure these qualities may have to be determined locally, where different countries may have different priorities. The OECD are planning to take this work forward with a further meeting in early 2006.
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