Modeling Relative Influence of Environmental and Socio-Cultural Factors on Context-Specific Functions

This study at the Georgia Institute of Technology, using Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) data from 26 courtrooms, developed a set of models that: 1) integrated variables from multiple domains, 2) developed a smaller set of aggregated functional dimensions intuitive to building stake-holders, 3) were context specific, 4) captured instrumental as well as abstract functions, and 5) articulated the relative influence of variables on the aggregated outcome measures. The POE data in this study included physical, environmental, as well as user attribute data. Physical and environmental data were collected using scientific instruments widely accepted in the building evaluation community. User evaluations of the courtrooms on multiple dimensions were collected using 7-point ordinal scale measures. Environmental and user attribute data were regressed on aggregated performance dimensions (resulting from Principal Component Analyses) to arrive at the integrated models, presented in this paper. The authors argue that the modeling approach supplements the traditional paradigm in two ways: 1) by validating traditional building physics models, and 2) by enabling validation from the clients’ perspective, focused on higher-level functional requirements.