The Campus as a Living Laboratory: Post-Occupancy Evaluation and a Digital Repository as a Teaching Tool

The objective of this pilot study was to redesign existing coursework in ways that would engage students and faculty in the investigation of environmental performance “in their own backyard.” The team tapped the potential of post-occupancy evaluation methods in order to activate high impact educational practices (such as collaborative assignments, experiential and service learning in the field, and discovery-based undergraduate research). At the same time, the pilot created an opportunity to facilitate further teaching and research opportunities on campus through the development of a digital data repository or data warehouse. The project illustrates the potential benefits of using campus buildings (and sites) to improve student learning through engagement, ignite new collaborations for faculty interdisciplinary research and teaching, and strengthen the connection between facilities and the academy while promoting environmental change.