Assessing experiential performance in basketball halls: a comparative measure through post-occupancy evaluation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Designing architectural spaces that effectively cater to the dynamic and evolving needs of diverse user groups is a complex and challenging task. This complexity is especially pronounced in public spaces like basketball halls, which must accommodate a wide range of user needs and have specific spatial requirements to ensure optimal functionality and user satisfaction. This study introduces a novel measure for comparing qualitative data obtained from Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) studies in basketball halls. POE is a powerful tool for assessing how well a building meets its intended purpose and user needs after a period of occupancy. However, comparing the success of different buildings can be challenging when evaluations are based on qualitative data. To address this issue, our measure incorporates the perspectives of key decision-makers involved in different stages of the building's lifecycle: the designer, facility manager, and sports manager. These perspectives are integrated using the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method SWARA. The validity of the proposed measure was tested through a field study. Results demonstrate its effectiveness in enabling the comparison of user-based qualitative data, offering a valuable tool for evaluating the experiential performance of basketball halls, a building type underrepresented in POE studies to date.