Archnet-IJAR, cilt.5, sa.3, ss.58-80, 2011 (Scopus)
Determination of the occupancy-related problems in the relevant space and improvement of spatial conditions is important in terms of social and physical harmony. In order to increase the efficiency of occupancy upon programming in public buildings inhabited by large number of occupants, carrying out a POE, whereby the opinions of occupants who have actively participated are evaluated, is of utmost importance. It is conferred that spatial comfort conditions offered at educational buildings, where individuals are introduced to the society, influence students' social and physical integration, as a requirement of academic life. Being a developing country, the number of higher education institutions in Turkey has increased in recent years. Architectural projects of many of these institutions were completed in short periods of time without conducting the required research on social and physical integration of students, who are the actual occupants. As for this particular study, spatial comfort related conditions of educational buildings have been explored through shared common spaces such as main entrance hall, corridors and the courtyard by assessing over three objectives; determining user characteristics, space occupancy and user mood. In 2010 a study has been followed at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the Dokuz Eylül University, located at Kaynaklar Campus, which incorporates the largest covered space on its campus. Survey was held through questionnaire on 226 freshman and junior students of the faculty students. Results have been shown in tables which were generated by the employment of the overall frequency breakdown method and then were converted into bar graphs. © 2011 Archnet-IJAR.