Architectural quality in university libraries: a study of user experience based on Post-Occupancy Evaluation.
Post-Occupancy Evaluation. University Libraries Buildings. Architectural Quality.
This research aims to evaluate the architectural quality of university library buildings from the perspective of their users. It is theoretically grounded in the fields of architectural design and environmental psychology, focusing on Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE). To this end, case studies were conducted using a multi-method strategy that combined: (i) objective investigations focused on the analysis of physical variables of the buildings by the researcher (measurements and technical inspections directed at technical, functional, and aesthetic aspects); (ii) subjective investigations valuing the users' perception (questionnaires and interviews). The empirical activity took place in three library buildings on university campuses in Fortaleza (CE), characterized by distinct organizational components: the Central Library of the Pici Campus of the Federal University of Ceará (UFC), the Library of the Benfica Campus of UFC, and the Central Library of the University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR) Campus. The systemic diagnosis thus obtained has the potential to deepen the understanding of the factors that influence the architectural quality of university libraries and to support guidelines that can be adopted in future projects for these spaces. For this examination, the initial chapters, the methodology, and the first case study are presented.