ABSTRACT
Summary
The post-occupancy evaluation of Knowlton Hall at the Ohio State University included analysis of archives about the building, interviews with members of the university architect’s office, a short evaluation from 62 faculty, students, and staff members two months after occupancy, and nine months later, more comprehensive surveys of 272 passersby and building occupants (students, faculty, and staff), as well as observations of use in the building and surrounding landscape. Results revealed mixed responses. In the short evaluation, occupants complained about a top-down, closed process that excluded meaningful input; and they gave the design neutral ratings. The later survey on the exterior appearance, completed by 79 passersby outside Knowlton Hall and 58 passers-by outside a new Physics Research building, found that respondents disliked the exterior. They gave Knowlton lower scores than those for the Physics building, and lower than those obtained for 1 ς campus buildings. In particular, they rated it as a poor fit to the campus and surroundings, unfriendly and ugly. Observations of use of the site found low use, and a lack of basic amenities to attract people to sit or linger. The comprehensive interior survey, completed by 135 occupants, yielded more mixed results. Occupants gave 96the interior negative to neutral evaluations. They gave low ratings to the environmental quality, ability to find your way around, quality of materials (wall, floors, ceilings), and interior aesthetics. Only one feature received a favorable evaluation—the amount of space. As for individual space categories, occupants liked the library and computer labs, but disliked circulation and the studio spaces. In response to this, a member of the university architect’s office who worked on the project commented that the building failed on its two major purposes: People could not find their way around, and the design studios did not work.
