Indoor Environmental Quality Factors Research Articles

Multi-Domain Environmental Quality of Indoor Mixed-Use Open Spaces and Insights into Healthy Living—A Quarantine Hotel Case Study

In the post-pandemic context, data-driven design interventions that can endow architectural spaces with mixed-use and open characteristics that are adaptable and environmentally resilient are increasingly important. Ubiquitous semi-public architecture, such as hotel buildings, plays a crucial role in public health emergencies. Many hotels adopt mixed-use and open room spatial layouts, integrating diverse daily functions into a single tiny space, fostering flexible utilization and micro-scale space sharing; however, these also introduce potential health risks. This study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of a hotel room space and discusses feasible intervention strategies for healthier renovation and rehabilitation. Taking a hotel in Shenzhen as a case, a multi-domain environmental assessment was conducted during the COVID-19 quarantine period in the summer of 2022. The study examines the health risks inherent in the hotel’s guest room and the varying patterns of IEQ factors across the hotel’s domains, including volatile organic compound concentrations, physical environmental parameters, and heat stress indices. The results illustrate diverse change trends in the chemical, physical, and heat stress factors present in the tested quarantined hotel room space throughout a typical summer day. Although most of the examined environmental factors meet local and global standards, some problems draw attention. In particular, the PM2.5 concentration was generally observed to be above the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline (AQG) standards, and the interior lighting did not meet required standards most of the time. Moreover, correlation and multiple regression analyses uncover significant influence by physical environmental conditions on the concentrations of chemical pollutants in the hotel room. The study preliminarily identifies that higher relative humidity could lead to a lower concentration of CO2 while a higher PM2.5 concentration. Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was observed to positively affect CO2 concentration. Further, the results suggest that even with relatively rigorous initial adjustment and re-renovation, multi-domain environmental quality in air-conditioned quarantine hotel rooms should be monitored and ameliorated from time to time. Overall, this study offers a scientific foundation for healthier upgrades of existing hotel buildings as well as provides insights into achieving environmental resilience in newly constructed hotel buildings for the post-pandemic era.

Beyond academia: Investigating indoor environmental quality and its impact on postgraduate student satisfaction

PurposeUniversities need to provide well-planned physical environments to foster creativity, since the indoor setting plays a crucial role in academic success in the 21st century, influencing their research efforts and future outcomes. This study set out to gain a better understanding of the relationship between Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) measures and occupants' fulfilment in their environments, emphasizing the significance of IEQ in improving comfort and well-being. To this end, first the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in university open-plan research offices (UOROs) in Brunel University London, UK is assessed by measuring various environmental factors through low-cost sensors. The data is then linked to a “Right Now” survey carried out to investigate to what extent do the measured values of the IEQ factors in postgraduate rooms differ from occupant satisfaction. The research showed a significant connection between measured IEQ factors and evaluations made by occupants. Subjective assessments may not always correspond with objective measures. The findings could guide design elements for postgraduate students' use of structures, potentially enhancing productivity. The system combines sensor technologies and Arduino-based monitoring to collect real-time data, improving the comprehension of IEQ and facilitating future study and practical applications in optimizing academic environments for increased productivity and well-being.

A novel dataset of indoor environmental conditions in work-from-home settings

During the last week of March 2020, millions of workers around the world transitioned to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While much research has explored the behavioural and psychological aspects of work-from-home (WFH), few studies have provided data-driven evaluations of indoor environmental quality (IEQ). This paper presents findings from a summer 2022 field study of IEQ conditions in WFH settings, involving 95 participants in the North American Pacific Northwest. Sensors installed on participants' work desks continuously measured total volatile organic compounds (tVOC), particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon dioxide (CO2) air temperature, humidity, and sound pressure levels (SPLs). Participants also completed surveys on home and workspace characteristics, as well as their subjective assessments of IEQ, well-being, and productivity. The study found that mean indoor concentrations of tVOC, PM2.5, and CO2 were 262 ppb, 5 µg/m3, and 712 ppm, respectively. Indoor air temperature ranged between 14.7–32.3°C, with a mean of 22.8°C, while relative humidity and SPL averaged at 52.5% and 53.7 dBA. Statistically-significant associations were observed between IEQ variables and factors such as residence type, cooking habits, workspace type, and window availability. A future paper will assess the surveyed behavioural and psychological characteristics in greater detail.

Systematic Review for the Assessment of Indoor Environment Quality Factors and Sub-Indicators of Classrooms

Systematic Review for the Assessment of Indoor Environment Quality Factors and Sub-Indicators of Classrooms

The technological assessment of green buildings using artificial neural networks

This study aims to construct a comprehensive evaluation model for efficiently assessing appropriate technologies within green buildings. Initially, an Internet of Things (IoT)-based environmental monitoring system is devised and implemented to collect real-time environmental parameters both inside and outside the building. To evaluate the technical suitability of green buildings, this study employs a multifaceted approach encompassing various criteria, including energy efficiency, environmental impact, economic benefits, user comfort, and sustainability. Specifically, it involves real-time monitoring of environmental parameters, analysis of energy consumption data, and indoor environmental quality indicators derived from user satisfaction surveys. Subsequently, a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) is selected as a conventional artificial neural network (ANN) model, while a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model is chosen as an advanced recurrent neural network model in the realm of deep learning. These models are utilized to process and explore the collected data and assess the technical suitability of green buildings. The dataset comprises physical quantities such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity, as well as economic indicators including energy efficiency and building operating costs. Furthermore, the assessment process considers the building's life cycle assessment and indoor environmental quality factors such as health, comfort, and safety. By incorporating these comprehensive criteria, a holistic evaluation of green building technologies is achieved, ensuring the selected technologies' suitability and effectiveness. The model prediction results demonstrate that the proposed hybrid evaluation model exhibits high accuracy and robust stability in predicting building environmental parameters. For instance, the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for temperature prediction is 1.2 °C, the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is 0.9 °C, and the determination coefficient (R2) reaches 0.95. Similarly, for humidity prediction, the RMSE, MAE, and R2 are 3.5 %, 2.8 %, and 0.88. Compared to the traditional MLP and LSTM models alone, the proposed hybrid model shows significant improvements in predicting building energy consumption, with approximately 15 % and 12 % reductions in RMSE and MAE, respectively, and an increase in R2 values of approximately 7 percentage points. These findings indicate that by amalgamation of the IoT and ANNs, this study successfully establishes a comprehensive model for accurately assessing technologies suitable for green buildings. This approach offers a novel perspective and methodology for the design and evaluation of green buildings.

Investigating library users’ perceived indoor environmental quality: SEM-Logit analysis study in a university library

This study aims to identify the key factors that influence library users’ satisfaction with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in a contemporary university library, focusing on both perceived IEQ and individual user characteristics. Through a thorough literature review, it pinpoints indoor environment quality (IEQ) and individual users characteristics as critical influences of satisfaction. Data were collected from 404 users within four specific study areas of a selected university library. The study employs structural equation modeling (SEM) and generalized ordered logistic regression (GOLRM), to examine the relationships between perceived IEQ factors and user satisfaction. The SEM showed a good fit and highlighted significant impacts of acoustic quality (coefficient = 0.24, p < 0.01) and interior design (coefficient = 0.65, p < 0.001) on satisfaction. GOLRM analysis revealed that factors such as “age” (odds ratio = 0.810, p = 0.039), “feeling” (odds ratio = 1.420, p = 0.017), and “location (6th floor group-based study area)” (odds ratio = 2.844, p = 0.004) significantly enhance satisfaction, though advancing from medium to higher satisfaction levels poses challenges. These insights suggest that customizing library spaces to meet diverse user needs can markedly improve satisfaction. The study underscores the importance of integrating environmental and personal factors in library design and showcases the effectiveness of SEM and GOLRM in exploring complex interactions within built environments. This approach offers a valuable framework for designers and facility managers to align library spaces with user expectations, making a substantial contribution to the field of built environmental design research.

The impact of IEQ in the university lecture theatres on students’ concentration levels in London

PurposeUniversity students’ lecture theatre concentration levels are significantly related to indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and the self-reported concentration levels of university students during the winter at University College London (UCL), UK.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire survey and physical measurements were used to assess the IEQ factors affecting students’ concentration levels.FindingsThe lecture theatre design factor was the most significant factor influencing students’ concentration levels, and the facility environment was more important than the thermal environment, indoor air quality, and acoustic environment in influencing students’ concentration levels in this winter investigation at UCL, UK. Additionally, students prefer a colder thermal environment. The concentration level of students was positively correlated with the indoor air quality and negatively correlated with the acoustic environment.Practical implicationsBased on model application, this research could provide lecture theatre IEQ design. This research additionally provides an acceptable indoor thermal environment temperature range based on a large sample, which can be used to calibrate a student performance benchmark.Originality/valueAs this study evaluates the IEQ factors that influence the concentration levels of university students, interior designers and engineers should consider the rational layout of these factors. Therefore, this study may provide a reference for the interior environmental design of lecture theatres in educational buildings.

Impact of Indoor Air Quality and Multi-domain Factors on Human Productivity and Physiological Responses: A Comprehensive Review

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) significantly impacts human health, well-being, and productivity. However, a comprehensive and in-depth review of the combined effects of IAQ and other multi-domain factors on human productivity is lacking. There has not been any prior review that encapsulates the impact of multi-domain factors on productivity and physiological responses of occupants. To address this gap, this review paper investigates and highlights the impact of IAQ and multi-domain factors (thermal, visual, and acoustic) on human productivity and occupant well-being in the built environment. The review explores various research methods, including evaluation of human productivity and creativity, data collection, and physiological signal analysis. We also examined the interactions between IAQ and multi-domain factors, as well as strategies for optimizing productivity through integrated building design and smart systems. The key findings from this review reveal that IAQ significantly impacts human productivity and occupant well-being, with interactions between IAQ and other IEQ factors further impacting these effects. Despite advances in the field, there are several limitations and gaps in the current research methods and study designs, including small sample sizes, limited and insufficient experimental design and control, reliance on laboratory or simulated environments, lack of follow-up and long-term data, and lack of robust performance metrics. The review proposes future research directions, including specific applications, and follow-up work to address these limitations and further advance the understanding of IAQ and multi-domain factors in the built environment. The implications of this review for policy and practice include the need for holistic and integrated approaches to IAQ and IEQ management, with a focus on creating healthy and productive indoor environments. This review emphasizes the importance of considering the complex interplay between IAQ and multi-domain factors, as well as the potentials of adopting smart control systems and sustainable design strategies to optimize productivity and occupant well-being in the built environment. By addressing these critical issues, we can enhance the overall quality of life for building occupants and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Driving forces behind the adoption of IEQ principles in building design: evidence from Nigerian quantity surveying firms

PurposeThe main objective of this study is to evaluate the driving forces behind the adoption of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) principles in building designs from the perspectives of Nigerian quantity surveying firms.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative approach was used which involved administering a well-structured questionnaire to a sample of 114 quantity surveyors. The collected data were analyzed using various statistical methods, including frequencies, percentages, mean item scores, Kruskal–Wallis test and exploratory factor analysis.FindingsThe top five ranked drivers were climate change mitigation, conservation of natural resources, reduction of waste and pollution, use of sustainable building materials and development of new materials and building systems. Based on the factor analysis, the study identified five clusters of drivers: (1) health and well-being drivers (2) economic drivers (3) environmental drivers (4) innovation and technology drivers and (5) regulatory drivers.Practical implicationsThe findings from this study suggest that to effectively integrate IEQ principles, quantity surveying firms should consider developing comprehensive guidelines and checklists that align with the identified drivers and clustered categories. These resources can serve as practical tools for project teams, facilitating a structured and holistic approach to the incorporation of IEQ factors throughout the project lifecycle.Originality/valueThe study’s identification of the top drivers and the subsequent clustering of these drivers into five distinct categories contributes to the existing body of knowledge on IEQ. This approach provides a structured framework for comprehensively understanding the factors influencing IEQ adoption, offering a valuable tool for researchers, policymakers and industry practitioners.

The Impact of Indoor Environmental Quality on Occupant Satisfaction in Commercial Buildings: A Comparison of Building Expert Opinions and Residents’ Experiences

This paper investigates the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) factors influencing occupant satisfaction in commercial buildings in Iran, contrasting the views of building experts (architects and engineers) with those of building occupants. Employing the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), this study focuses on the four primary IEQ factors: thermal comfort, indoor air quality, visual comfort, and acoustic comfort. The study aims to bridge the gap between expert evaluations and occupant perceptions of IEQ factors in commercial buildings in Iran. By examining the disparities in prioritising IEQ factors between these two groups, the study sheds light on the complexities of IEQ assessment and highlights the importance of considering diverse perspectives in optimising indoor environments. Our methodology includes a survey conducted among 30 building experts (15 architects and 15 building engineers) and 102 occupants, employing FAHP to derive the relative importance weights of each IEQ factor. The results highlight significant disparities between architects, engineers, and occupants in prioritising these factors. Architects emphasise visual comfort (42%), while engineers and occupants view thermal comfort (53% and 41%) as the most crucial factor for occupant satisfaction. The study underscores the complexity of IEQ in commercial buildings and the diverse perspectives influencing its assessment. It contributes to the broader discourse on optimising IEQ, emphasising the need for a comprehensive approach that encompasses both technical expertise and occupant experience.

Impact of indoor environmental quality weighting schemes on office architectural design decisions

The importance of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) cannot be overstated, as it impacts the health and satisfaction of occupants. To evaluate overall indoor comfort, all four IEQ domains must be considered together. However, there is a lack of guidance on how to prioritize each domain and corresponding metrics, particularly during the early design stage. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of different weighting schemes on commercial building design elements to have high overall comfort. First, a parametric modeling approach for a shoe-box office building is developed to quantify IEQ domains using various design parameters. Subsequently, multiple weighting options are defined, resulting in an aggregated IEQ score. Next, high-performance designs are identified and compared based on each weighting scheme for two different climates. Results show that, as long as all four comfort domains are considered, the choice of weighting scheme does not significantly affect the selection of high-performance designs. Therefore, an equal weighting scheme is suggested for the early stage. This paper presents an original approach to support design decisions and the mutual weightings of IEQ factors.

Understanding Discrepancies between predicted and experienced (Dis)comfort for hospitalized Patients: Four Reasons explored

Hospitalized patients’ healing process is affected by their room’s indoor environmental comfort. Models are developed to predict (dis)comfort. However, discrepancies with experienced (dis)comfort occur. Four reasons have been identified for these discrepancies: (a) people adapt, (b) in their experiences, indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors interact, and experienced (dis)comfort and adaptation differ (c) between people and (d) between settings. To better understand these reasons and their relationships, it was investigated how hospitalized patients’ experiences of their indoor environment relate to measurable values of IEQ parameters. A multiple mixed methods case study was conducted at Belgian hospital wards. Data collection included interviews, self-documentation by patients, questionnaires, sensor measurements of IEQ parameters, and simulations of indoor conditions. Data were analysed in separate and integrated ways. (a) Five adaptation strategies were identified. They seem to impact experienced comfort psychologically in different ways. (b) IEQ factors interact in experiences because their assessment is influenced by the overall comfort. Adaptation strategies enable achieving the highest conceived overall comfort. (c and d) What one considers as comfortable and the adaptation strategies one applies to achieve it differ between participants and between settings. This better understanding is an important step towards improving comfort predictions, and therefore reducing discrepancies.

Perception of Overall Quality of Life Among Occupants of Green and Non-Green Office Buildings in Malaysia

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) has become an important component of building design because people tend to spend the majority of their time indoors. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the occupants’ overall perceived Quality of Life (QoL) experience in two green and two non-green office buildings. All four buildings are situated in Klang Valley, Malaysia, and they are open-plan office buildings. 162 questionnaires were administered to assess the relationship between individuals' perceived QoL and IEQ factors. The IEQ factors, classified into ambient conditions, designed environment, and behavioural environment, are found to impact QoL. Findings from the case studies reveal that the four buildings varied in the aspect of Behavioural Environment, where some of the IEQ factors in the green buildings were perceived as slightly uncomfortable. It was also found that several IEQ categories interact as a system in which improvement of occupants' QoL experiences cannot be accomplished solely through the instrumental components of IEQ, as the designed and behavioural environments have substantial impacts. Several missing factors linked to the Green Building Index (GBI) criteria were significantly correlated with the QoL experience of occupants.

Impact of Indoor Environmental Quality on Students’ Comfort in High School Buildings during the Summer Season in an Extreme Climate

Maintaining a satisfactory indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is an integral element of improving occupant health and well-being. In particular, IEQ is an essential factor in some facilities, such as school buildings, to improve student academic performance. This study employed an objective and subjective measurement approach to assess IEQ in a government high school (GHS) and a private high school (PHS) located in Oman, which is characterized by its extreme hot climate. A total of 212 high school students were surveyed during the summer season across 10 different classrooms to ascertain their perception of IEQ situations. The results suggested that most of the observed IEQ factors, including air temperature, relative humidity, and lighting levels across the classrooms in GHS and PHS, satisfied the ASHRAE standard, except the indoor air temperature, which was slightly above the maximum threshold of the European Standard (EN). The average indoor sound levels (>60 dB) exceeded critical limits of 35 dB for school buildings, which may pose the risk of high annoyance (HA) to 30% of students. Satisfactory predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) scores were obtained from both schools when they were evaluated against the ASHRAE standard compared with the EN standard. The maximum proportion of the students reported their classroom’s air temperature (33%), relative humidity (25%), and air movement (47%) levels as not acceptable, and thermal comfort (33%), visual comfort (22%), and air quality (41%) as bad (P < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed a strong linear relationship between indoor air temperature (R2 = 0.89) and other IEQ parameters, while PPD (R2 = 0.45) and PMV (R2 = 0.17) showed a weak relationship with outdoor environmental factors. Outdoor air temperature and humidity levels accounted for greater changes in indoor air temperature levels in the PHS than in the GHS. Providing increased urban vegetation, green façade, and retrofitting and the utilization of passive cooling could help improve IEQ in Oman schools.

Interaction effects of indoor environmental quality factors on cognitive performance and perceived comfort of young adults in open plan offices in North American Mediterranean climate

While Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) factors in an environment co-exist, the interaction effects of these factors and their impacts on cognitive functioning and perceived comfort have not been comprehensively examined. In this study, the interaction effects between temperature, lighting Correlated Color Temperature (CCT), and noise levels on selective attention, sustained attention, creativity, acoustics, thermal, visual, and overall IEQ comfort of young adults in open-plan offices in North American Mediterranean climate were presented. In a mixed-design controlled experimental setting, 52 young adults were recruited, and their objective cognitive performance and subjective comfort were assessed through statistical analysis. The experimental set points included [20 °C, 25 °C], [2700 K, 6500 K], and [50 dB, 65 dB] for temperature, lighting color, and noise, respectively. Additionally, the work took into consideration the gender and Body Mass Index (BMI) of participants. The results show that temperature moderated the effect of noise level and lighting CCT on selective attention, while no effect of IEQ factors on sustained attention was found. Creativity was influenced by gender and its interaction with the noise level. Concerning perceived comfort, acoustic comfort varied significantly with temperature. Thermal comfort was influenced by the combined moderating effect of lighting CCT and BMI on temperature, while visual comfort was driven by the moderation effect of gender on lighting CCT. Overall comfort was affected by the noise level and temperature. Finally, cognitive performance indicators were correlated with perceived IEQ comfort votes. Based on the findings of this study, considerations of interactions between noise, lighting CCT, temperature, gender, and BMI can shape occupant-centric priorities for enhanced cognitive functioning and comfort.

Understanding occupancy patterns of university libraries in the post-pandemic era

Understanding occupancy patterns in buildings is crucial for energy system planning, energy model calibration, and occupant-centric operations for health and comfort. In this study, we detected and analyzed the occupancy patterns of university libraries, a building type that is largely overlooked in existing studies but can provide a unique opportunity to understand the human-building interactions given that occupants are free to choose their seats from hundreds of possible options in built environments. In libraries, occupants usually do not have fixed seats and pick seats within the built environment that they like, which provides a non-intrusive opportunity to carry out post-occupancy evaluations. We used the publicly available seat reservation data to analyze the occupancy patterns over one semester in four libraries, and proposed four metrics to capture important mobility parameters and behaviors at multiple spatial–temporal scales. We constructed two sets of databases consisting of around 70 million records of nearly 3,000 seats in 4 libraries, with seat-level resolution and sampling frequency of every 10 s. The informative data set depicts not only the overall spatial–temporal occupancy patterns, but also nuances associated with seats and visits. The daily flow of the main library exceeded two visits per seat. Half of the visitors stayed at the libraries for 3–6 h during a single occupancy. Semester schedules and campus accessibility together influence students’ decisions on when and to which library to go to, while even within the same zone, some seats were always more popular than their neighbors. We found that influential factors included privacy, distance to neighboring users, access to the outdoor environment (window), etc. besides the well-studied conventional Indoor Environment Quality factors whose importance might have been over-emphasized, and we summarize the balance of these attractive features as “semi-isolation”. This work provides fresh data for library occupancy modeling. Our findings can inform the design, operation and management of university libraries, emphasizing the importance of human-centric, sensory and biophilic designs.

Perceived fit of different office activities – The contribution of office type and indoor environment

Office spaces are often examined using comfort-based measures. Another view is the need-supply fit, which emphasizes the fit of the space for different activities. Here the influence of office types and satisfaction with indoor environmental quality (IEQ) factors on different activities' perceived fit was examined with a large global dataset consisting of 82 315 respondents. The office types included private offices, assigned workstations in shared offices, assigned workstations in open-plan offices, team tables, and flex offices. The IEQ factors were estimations of satisfaction with thermal conditions, noise, air quality, natural light, and office lighting. The perceived fit was the estimation of workplaces’ support for different office tasks classified into eight activity types. The largest proportion of respondents were dissatisfied with thermal conditions (30.7%) and noise (27.9%). However, only dissatisfaction with noise was strongly related to the perceived fit and explained alone 17% of perceived fit for concentrated work. All office types supported office activities well. Satisfaction with IEQ factors explained the perceived fit better than the office types. Satisfaction with IEQ factors alone explained 16−24% of the perceived fit depending on the activity type. Private offices were considered the best fit, especially for concentrated and confidential work as well as remote contacts. The study shows that the need-supply fit approach offers a slightly different perspective on office functioning than comfort-based approaches. Satisfaction with IEQ factors is crucial for functioning in an office. Special care should be paid to noise control especially with activities needing concentration, confidentiality, or special material.

Critical indoor environmental factors affecting productivity: perspectives from university staff and postgraduate students

ABSTRACT Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of buildings plays an important role in affecting building occupants’ comfort, health and well-being. However, there is limited understanding of the critical IEQ factors that affect occupants’ work productivity in university office buildings. By surveying 204 people (72 university staff members and 132 postgraduate students) in a tertiary education institution in New Zealand, this research aimed to identify and rank the critical IEQ factors concerning their perceived productivity and how the perceived importance of these factors differed between staff and student cohorts. Statistical analysis identified a total of 16 IEQ factors as important in affecting work productivity, and 15 of them, except cleanliness of the office, could be grouped into four categories: (1) thermal comfort and lighting; (2) acoustics and privacy comfort; (3) spatial comfort and (4) aesthetics and views. Based on the identified critical IEQ factors, a framework was developed and can be used by building facility managers and designers in the tertiary education sector to optimize design solutions to improve building performance that is more conducive to their occupants. The findings from this research can inform the inclusion of design features that will enable staff and students using these buildings to achieve better productivity.

In the eye of the flourish wheel: an assessment of users’ health, well-being and productivity in university research rooms

ABSTRACT Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is an immense concern for people’s wellness. The central argument in this research is that the IEQ in a university research room impacts users and their health, well-being and productivity. In addition, the present study relies on the Flourish Wheel to enhance the environment using the Biophilic Design approach, which in turn influences users’ satisfaction and work performance in five research rooms at Brunel University London. These rooms are situated in the same outdoor environment of a single university campus, but house multi-disciplinary occupants and vary in construction age, size, methods of ventilation and mode of thermostatic control. The current research paper firstly investigated the role of IEQ factors and sub-factors on occupants’ health, well-being, and productivity. Secondly, evaluated the possibility of improving the indoor workplace environment using Biophilic Design patterns. The most prominent finding is that the qualities of the five critical aspects of IEQ have significantly positive correlations with the occupants’ wellness. Another significant result is that the 14 Biophilic Design framework patterns can holistically offer different ways to improve the research rooms based on various environmental issues. The findings proposed in this study could be valuable both for design practitioners and academic researchers.

Effects of indoor environment factors on productivity of university workplaces: A structural equation model

How are the indoor environment factors affecting the work productivity of office users in university buildings? Statistical analyses were undertaken on data probing building usage and self-reported indoor environment quality (IEQ) perception from a survey of 157 postgraduate students and 89 staff members at a university in New Zealand. Results of the partial least squares structural equational modelling confirmed the positive correlation among the IEQ within an office, the wellbeing and comfort as well as three dimensions of work productivity. IEQ factors relating to aesthetics and views were found to have the strongest effect on wellbeing and comfort as well as productivity for postgraduate students, whereas factors related to spatial and cleanliness are the most important for staff members. For both cohorts, the wellbeing and comfort in the office have significant direct effects on contextual performance, which indirectly further affects office users’ ability in time management and task performance. The findings highlight the importance of the inclusion of design features that are productivity and wellbeing oriented across the building and the need for appropriate consultation with university office building users (e.g., students and staff) to achieve optimised design solutions.