Search

This study explores if multiple alterations of the classrooms' indoor environmental conditions, which lead to environmental conditions meeting quality class A of Dutch guidelines, result in a positive effect on students' perceptions and performance. A field study, with a between-group experimental design, was conducted during the academic course in 2020–2021. First, the reverberation time (RT) was lowered in the intervention condition to 0.4 s (control condition 0.6 s). Next, the horizontal illuminance (HI) level was raised in the intervention condition to 750 lx (control condition 500 lx). Finally, the indoor air quality (IAQ) in both conditions was improved by increasing the ventilation rate, resulting in a reduction of carbon dioxide concentrations, as a proxy for IAQ, from ~1100 to

A large proportion of the global workforce migrated home during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. It remains unclear what the exact differences between home workers and non-home workers were, especially during the pandemic when a return to work was imminent. How were building, workplace, and related facilities associated with workers’ perceptions and health? What are the lessons to be learned? Lifelines Corona Research Initiative was used to compare employees’ workplaces and related concerns, facilities, work quality, and health in a complete case analysis (N = 12,776) when return to work was imminent. Mann-Whitney U, logistic regression, and Wilcoxon matched-pairs were used for analyses. Notwithstanding small differences, the results show that home workers had less favourable scores for concerns about and facilities of on-site buildings and workplaces upon return to work, but better scores for work quality and health than non-home workers. However, additional analyses also suggest that building, workplace, and related facilities may have had the capacity to positively influence employees’ affective responses and work quality, but not always their health.

While activity-based working is gaining popularity worldwide, research shows that workers frequently experience a misfit between the task at hand and their work setting. In the current study, experience sampling data were used to examine how perceived fit in activity-based work environments is related to user behavior (i.e., the use of work settings and setting-switching). We found that workers’ perceived fit was higher when they used closed rather than open work settings for individual high-concentration work. Furthermore, more frequent setting-switching was related to higher perceived fit. Unexpectedly, however, this relation was observed only among workers low in activity-switching. These findings indicate that user behavior may indeed be relevant to creating fit in activity-based work environments. To optimize workers’ perceived fit, it seems to be particularly important to facilitate and stimulate the use of closed work settings for individual high-concentration work.

The indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms in higher education can influence in-class activities positively. In this context, the actual IAQ and students’ perceived IAQ (PIAQ), perceived cognitive performance (PCP), and short-term academic performance (SAP) were examined in two identical classrooms during regular academic courses. During the lecture, key performance indicators (KPI) for the IAQ, i.e. carbon dioxide concentration, particulate matter 2.5, and total volatile organic compounds, were measured. After the lecture, responses of 163 students were collected with a validated self-composed questionnaire and a cognitive test, which covered topics discussed during the lecture. A significant association between the IAQ KPI and the PIAQ was found (p < .000). The PIAQ significantly predicted the PCP (p < .05) and the PCP significantly predicted the SAP score (p < .01). These results indicate that the IAQ in classrooms is associated with the PIAQ and PCP, and therefore is associated with students’ SAP.

Background and aim – The aim of this paper is to look at the professionalization of municipal real estate management (MREM) from an organizational design perspective. Methods / Methodology – Analysis of current and recent MREMliterature in a Dutch context on organizational design. Results – It appears that organizational design is implicitly or explicitly concluded as being interesting and relevant, but no research was performed on this topic. In general, it seems MREM could be significantly better organized creating higher value of its real estate for society. Practical or social implications – The finding that organizational design is an interesting yet underexposed parameter contributes to an awareness at real estate professionals. A better organization of MREM will not only increase professionalism, but also create higher value for local authorities and society. Moreover, possibilities for future research have been identified. Ultimately, new research and more best case practices can advance the management of real estate at local governments.

Breastfeeding has important long-term health consequences, not only for infants, but also for mothers. Researchers have calculated that scaling up breastfeeding could annually prevent 823,000 child deaths and 20,000 breast cancer deaths worldwide. Because of the important effects of breastfeeding, the World Health Organization advises mothers to breastfeed for minimally 2 years. However, breastfeeding rates are low, especially in the western parts of the world. One of the most important reasons to discontinue breastfeeding is the often-difficult combination of breastfeeding and work. Research shows that many mothers don’t have access to a suitable space to express milk at work. For FM professionals it is crucial to realize that the availability of breastfeeding facilities is important for organizations too. Breastfeeding improves the health and well-being of infants and mothers, which leads to reduced sick leave and health care costs. Moreover, breastfeeding support at work can lead to higher job satisfaction, a better work-life balance, and can reduce staff turnover. Therefore, offering good breastfeeding facilities creates a win-win situation, benefitting mothers, babies, and organizations. Facility managers are in a unique position to secure a healthier work environment that makes combining work and breastfeeding easy and feasible. FM can make a change!

Many countries signed the Paris Agreement in order to mitigate global average temperature rise. In this context, Dutch authorities also decided to realize a maximum of 35% residual waste by 2020 for its own operations. So, 65% of the total waste should be recyclable or re-usable and only a maximum of 35% should be not. This current paper explores how changes in automatic behaviours, facility operations and related practice-oriented research can contribute to this aim of the authorities.

Background and aim – Patients undergo one or more medical interventions in a hospital. In the hospital, patients are surrounded by spaces and services. The output in a hospital is the patients’ outcome. To gain understanding about a holistic experience of patients, we assessed the experience and well-being of patients at specific focal points of the entire patient journey: from the arrival, to the diagnosis and the actual treatment in a hospital. Methods – This article describes three field experiments that were conducted in a Dutch hospital. First, in an age-simulation study the effect of route complexity and physical ageing was assessed during 108 wayfinding tasks. Second, in a quasi-randomized experiment the use of a motion-nature projection was assessed during a diagnostic scan (N = 97) . Lastly, in a quasi-randomized experiment the effect of a nontalking rule during an outpatient infusion treatment was assessed (N = 263). Results – A wide variety of patients visit a hospital and all patients of course bring an opinion of their own and experience their hospital visit differently. However, patients benefit from a simple building structure during wayfinding, inexpensive beamers to project nature during diagnostics, and a mix of treatment places with respect to social interest during infusion treatments. Originality – There is little discussion about the holistic experience of patients, that concerns the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social well-being of patients. In our study we applied a holistic and patient-centered approach. Practical or social implications – The well-being of patients can be significantly improved when the built, natural, and sound environment is taken into account with respect to individual differences. Type of paper – Research paper.

Background and aim – The aim of this paper is present how application of the innovative Indoor Comfort Index (ICI) method reveal the actual indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and the perceived IEQ and its influence on office workers productivity. Application of this tool in a pre and post-test after an office refurbishment, will reveal the effectiveness of this intervention. The development and application of this tool, emerged from education and research in facility management, led to a spin-off consultancy firm Vital Workplace. Methods – Actual measurements of the IEQ conditions, combined with users’ perceptions of the IEQ, before and after an office refurbishment, reveals the effectiveness of a refurbishment by analysing the differences between the pre and post-test with multiple statistical analyses. Results – Regarding the IEQ, the ICI reveals not only the actual performance of an office building, also if improved conditions contribute to improved comfort of office workers. In addition, the possible influence of the IEQ on office workers productivity is revealed. This allows facility managers to determine and improve the alignment of environment quality with workers’ activities and performance. Originality – The tool combines actual and perceived environmental quality at office buildings. Practical or social implications – Education and research can be used to create spin-offs in facility management. The developed tool can be used to diagnose the current state of the office, a basis for discussion on related improvements, and by doing so, for a cost-benefit analyses of design interventions at organizations. Showing if design impact on users outweigh the costs of real estate, refurbishment, and changes in operations. Type of paper – Research paper.

Background and aim – This paper studies urban decline, the process in which the built environment suddenly or gradually loses its practical, technical and economic functionality, resulting in it being abandoned by its legitimate occupants and neglected by its owners for an extended period of time. Recent European examples of urban decline from around the globe as well as five German examples were studied. This is followed by a reflection on the risks for public safety and public health that these examples show and the possible role of facility managers in diminishing these risks. Methods / Methodology – Data were collected by means of desk research and direct observations. Results – At all locations public safety and public health risks were considerable. Direct observations at five German locations show extensive urban decline. Originality –Identifying safety and health risks in abandoned buildings and connecting these issues to the facility management profession offers a new perspective on dealing with urban decay. Practical or social implications – Abandoned buildings that are easily accessible to the public generate considerable risks for public safety and health. This paper calls for a debate about how to deal with these risks. Part of the debate should be whether or not such situations should be allowed to continue. Moreover, this paper suggests a prominent role for the facility management profession in order to deal with these safety and health issues. Type of paper – Research paper.

Background and aim – In practice, phone pods and office booths, hereafter referred to as pods, have proven their added value and popularity in open-plan offices. How would that work in another context, such as in higher education? This study explores use and user perceptions of these pods in an atrium on a Dutch university campus. Methods / Methodology – After placing nine pods, the effects were studied through document analysis, guest journey, direct observation (behaviour, indoor climate, bacteria, fungus), interview, and survey. Results – Students use the pods mainly for seven activities: meeting, project work, noise-free work, study, phone call, relaxation, or hang out. Students report a positive general experience of the pod, a very positive experience when entering the pod, and hardly any negative experiences. They feel at ease and the pods ensure better concentration. Finally, pod users reported to be a little less nervous than other atrium users. Originality – The studied pods are mostly applied in open-plan offices. By placing them in an atrium at a Dutch university campus the pods are exposed to different users, generating new user-related findings. Practical or social implications – In order to perform well, students need a variety of places on campus. An atrium is normally crowded, loud, and noisy. Pods provide an extra option, a space within a space, that students use and appreciate. By adding these tiny spaces to their repertoire, universities seem to be better aligned with user needs. Facility managers and researchers could consider experimenting with pods in other lively contexts.