1. The Tale of Two Projects: Needs Assessment and Post-Occupancy Evaluation in ITU Student Social Centres pelin dursun korkmaz 18th IAPS Conference, July 6-10, 2004, Vienna, Austria ahsen özsoy

2. the concept of re-functioning... Using recent technological tools, architects and urban planners have been working to improve the urban areas and historic buildings that have been abandoned under economic, social and technological developments and trying to integrate them into city life with new functions. Canary Wharf in London, Expo 98 and its surroundings in Lisbon, IBA-Emscher Park in Ruth urban scale building scale The Tate Gallery in the British Museum in London, the New German Parliament in Berlin, the gazometer projects in Vienna

3. the concept of re-functioning... Changing needs and technological and economical necessities make “re-evaluation of existing contemporary buildings” a current issue. Nowadays, architects are re- functioning existing buildings to improve living quality and to use spaces more effectively based on the changing needs and requirements of the new century. The concept of re- functioning of existing buildings will be totally differentiated from the new building proposals. “integration “structural constraints “flexibility” The problem of “integration ” of a new proposal to the existing layout without disturbing its identity and living pattern will accompany the problem of “structural constraints ” that affect new design proposals. In the design process, the concept of “flexibility” will also become an issue for further developments.

4. renovation attempts at istanbul technical university... Keeping abreast of modern developments, Istanbul Technical University is constantly restructuring itself and renovating its physical, educational and social infrastructure.

5. aim of the study... This paper focuses on the post-occupancy evaluations in the student social centers of two faculty buildings which were designed in the extent of renovation attempts in Istanbul Technical University. Similar projects in two different cases will be tested comparatively and the findings will provide feedback for further developments in other ITU faculty buildings. This study will also give an opportunity to the architects to evaluate their own designs based on the criticism of the real users.

6. the studies on post-occupancy evaluations... Evaluation studies are usually undertaken to assess the adequacy of existing environments and to provide guidance for the creation of new environments. Post-occupancy evaluation is the process of evaluating buildings in a systematic way after they have been built and occupied for some time. Post-occupancy evaluations focus on the buildings’ occupants and their needs, thus providing insight into the consequences of past design decisions and the resulting building performance Post-occupancy evaluations focus on the buildings’ occupants and their needs, thus providing insight into the consequences of past design decisions and the resulting building performance.

7. the tale of two projects... This study focus on the two student social center in ITU Ayazaga Campus. The aim of the designs is to transform the existing and useless canteen and service spaces into student social centers while providing various activities and integrating these spaces for the faculty and campus life.

8. sample 1... The student social center in the Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, 1999 The project, located on a 1500 square meter site, consists of a café, an internet café, an exhibition hall, an open courtyard and service spaces such as an information unit, a kitchen and a storage area.

9. sample 2... sample 2... The student social center in the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 2001 The project, located on a 504 square meter site, consists of a café, a billiards room, student clubs and service spaces such as a kitchen and a storage area The project, located on a 504 square meter site, consists of a café, a billiards room, student clubs and service spaces such as a kitchen and a storage area.

10. about site surveys... In this study interviews were conducted with 49 students in the Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering and with 76 students in the Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. 27 teachers in Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering and 8 teachers in Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

11. about site surveys... In this study students and teachers were asked about: which groups mostly used these spaces? student 1 th sample: student-teacher-guest 2 nd sample: student-teacher-guest teacher 1 th sample: student-teacher-guest 2 nd sample: student-teacher-guest how often and which period do they use these spaces? student 1 th sample: two or three times a day, 12.30-14.30 2 nd sample: two or three times a day, 12.30-14.30 teacher 1 th sample: one time in a day and one time in a month,12.30-14.30 2 nd sample: one time in two-three days, 12.30-14.30

12. about site surveys... what are the most important activities they made in these spaces? student 1 th sample: eating- resting and meeting - meeting and studying- studying- participating club activities- playing billiards 2 nd sample: eating- resting- meeting- studying-participating in club activities teacher 1 th sample: eating-having guest 2 nd sample: eating-having guest

13. about site surveys...... is there any specific location they prefered to be in these spaces ?.............. 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1. entrance, 2. exhibition hall, 3. internetcafe, 4. classrooms, 5. café, 6. courtyard, 7. service, 8. storage, 9. toilets 1. entrance, 2. café, 3. billiard room, 4. club rooms, 5. courtyard, 6. service, 7. storage............................. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 th sample areas having a view of courtyards or spaces along the windows, gardens, club and computer rooms 2 nd sample

14. about site surveys... how do they evaluate these spaces based on the different properties of them? verygoodgoodmoderatebadvery bad no response arrangement of space 62184118193823 23 order of space/spatial relations 31173016188 23 36 colors in space 431632152511914 23 materials in space 37142519309733 14 furniture in space 149261424141377 42 dimensions 832815931-15211 21 acoustics in space 2213 1225142359 34 diversity and quality of food --13 17 1122723 11 music broadcast 135313107141738 68 spacecleanliness 72242011194172 11 approach of manager 851824141959218 21 the choice of students and teachers mainly took place in the “moderate” and “good” intervals. the negative evaluations of students were made about the diversity of foods and music broadcasts and the negative evaluations of teachers were made about acoustic and ventilation levels.

15. about site surveys... how do they evaluate these spaces using some adjectives? A + 1 st sample2 nd sample A - 1 st sample2 nd sample contemporary boring clean ordinary plain insufficient useful dull beautiful noisy friendly uncomfortable relaxing/restfulcolorless large enoughcold small unproductive teacher They found these spaces plain, beautiful, contemporary, relief and clean. On the other hand they described them as colorless, dull, boring, ordinary, uncomfortable, unproductive, insufficient and noisy.

16. about site surveys... how often they use the courtyards or exterior spaces? could not use these spaces because they are always kept lock. student-teacher how do they compare these centers with former canteens? teacher although the centers were quite good, they weren’t use as much as former ones. in the first sample, missing former canteen, finding themselves very lucky since these kinds of spaces were shaped in their faculties. in the second sample, finding themselves very lucky since these kinds of spaces were shaped in their faculties

17. conclusions... Although design and construction quality have been concerned as primarily important for the user satisfaction in the space; the study showed that management rules and quality of the services are also very important from the users’ point of view. Post-occupancy evaluation of the buildings indicates the successes and failures of design decisions for future applications. Post-occupancy evaluations of two student centers of ITU give us some important results which can be used for future developments.

18. conclusions... It seems extremely important that, architects and environmental designers have to re-visited the buildings they designed to obtain necessary feedback, and have to be informed about the positive and negative characteristics / qualities which create satisfaction or dissatisfaction.