What is Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE)?
A Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is a structured review of how a new or changed workplace is performing after people start using it. It gathers feedback and evidence about comfort, use, and outcomes so teams can fix problems and optimise the space.
A POE is a research activity carried out after an office or workplace change (for example a fit-out, move or redesign) to assess whether the space meets user needs and design objectives. It typically combines quantitative and qualitative methods—occupant surveys, interviews or focus groups, observations, usage analytics (room bookings, sensor data) and facilities feedback—to measure satisfaction, behaviour, space utilisation, and issues such as acoustics, thermal comfort and wayfinding. The goal is to compare expected outcomes with lived experience and create recommendations for adjustments, operations or future projects.
Usage example
After the company completed its open-plan redesign, the workplace team ran a POE three months after move-in using an occupant survey, meeting-room booking data and a series of staff interviews to identify where the new layout was helping collaboration and where noise and privacy problems remained.
Practical application
POEs turn assumptions and design intent into evidence — helping workplace, facilities and design teams validate investments, prioritise quick operational fixes, and plan longer-term changes. They reduce risk (by revealing unexpected behaviours or comfort issues), improve user satisfaction, and provide measurable baselines and benchmarks for future initiatives. A well-run POE also supports stakeholder reporting by demonstrating impact and informing continuous improvement through follow-up measurement.
FAQ
When should a POE be conducted?
Common timings are an initial check 3–6 months after people move in and a follow-up at 12 months to capture settled behaviours. Shorter checks (weeks) can catch urgent issues, while longer-term reviews track change over time. The ideal schedule depends on project scale and how quickly occupants adapt.
What methods are used in a POE?
Typical methods include occupant surveys (quantitative and free-text), structured interviews or focus groups, on-floor observations or walkabouts, and analysis of usage data such as bookings, occupancy sensors and helpdesk requests. Combining methods gives a more complete picture than any single data source.
Who should run a POE and how long does it take?
POEs can be run by in-house workplace or facilities teams, internal researchers, or external consultants. A scoped POE—designing the study, collecting responses, analysing results and producing recommendations—usually takes a few weeks to a few months depending on scale and methods chosen.
How do you make POE findings actionable?
Translate results into specific, prioritised recommendations (quick wins, operational changes, and larger redesigns), link each item to impact measures (satisfaction, utilisation, cost), and plan follow-up measurement to check whether changes worked. Use clear stakeholder reporting and visible fixes to build momentum for further improvements.