What is a Post-Occupancy Evaluation?

Revisiting & reflecting on completed projects

Design is an iterative process, and we learn something from each project we work on. Post-occupancy evaluations, or POEs, are something we like to incorporate, particularly for permanent supportive housing or senior design projects. But what is a post-occupancy evaluation? Essentially, it is returning to a building we've designed and asking the residents and staff how well the building works for them. This process often includes surveys, interviews, and on-site observation. Sometimes the devil is in the details: selecting a thermostat that is easy for residents to operate or considering environmental stress associated with the noise of a continuously running exhaust fan. Sometimes it's something more general, like understanding which color palettes and finishes are preferred by residents.

In 2024, a team of WJW staff, with the help of our summer intern Jocelyn Hernandez, conducted POEs at several buildings designed by WJW, including Access Health & Housing, the Lanam Rapp Building, Madison II, and Sertoma Union Avenue. Jane moderated a panel about the findings, in discussion with our PSH partners, at the 2025 IHC Affordable Housing Forum. With each POE, we are learning something that we can apply to our future projects. We are grateful for the residents and staff members who gave their time and feedback for this process. And thank you to the organizations that partnered with us for this process - Impact Behavioral Health, Trinity Health, Phoenix Community Development Services, and Sertoma Star Services.