Post‐occupancy evaluation: evaluating for the future

This is the third article in a series on post‐occupancy evaluation (POE) and its uses in facilities management. The first (Facilities, 5/11, November 1987) covered the background to the current interest in POE, and discussed general principles and organisation. The second article (Facilities, 5/12, December 1987) focused on the use of POE to provide information for upgrading or improving existing facilities; and it described in some detail the technique of the planning workshop. This article is about applying POE for the future, either for a move to new offices, producing a new building, or even stocktaking for future planning purposes. So far the term POE has been used to cover all types of user‐based evaluation whether for management, upgrading or planning. But in the present context it would be more accurate to speak of ‘pre‐design’ rather than ‘post‐occupancy’ evaluation. Yet is this really an important distinction? If we see design in facilities management as the continuous process of shaping and reshaping offices rather than viewing it — as many architects do — as a series of one‐off projects, then any contradictions between pre‐ design and post‐occupancy are resolved : they are one and the same.