Rethinking refurbishment projects for improved users' working environment

Sammanfattning: The built environment is important to achieve a sustainable society. From a sustainability perspective, refurbishment can be preferable to building anew. A significant proportion of the built environment needs to be refurbished. Refurbishment projects also provide the opportunity to proactively upgrade the working environment for users during operation and use.Research concerning the working environment in the context of construction-related projects has mainly emphasized issues affecting construction workers. The central issue has tended to be the reduction of risks in relation to ill health, not factors that can contribute to prevent poor health or increase user well-being. Furthermore, there is a lack of understanding about the influence of refurbishment projects on user productivity.The research undertaken builds on post-positivism. The chosen method is case studies, which have been built on triangulation and data gathered through document analysis, survey questionnaire and interviews. The studies examined refurbishment projects for offices. Different aspects of the refurbishment process and their influence upon the working environment for users has been studied. In all, four case studies were undertaken.The first case study investigated the influence of briefing. This study revealed deficiencies in the briefing process. The second case study considered facility management, especially the way in which deficiencies are handled during operation and how this can influence the working environment. This study revealed reactive and behaviour-centred facility management and an unexpected long period,measured in years, before rectification and remedy of deficiencies were undertaken. The third case study dealt with post-occupancy evaluation and if its inclusion can contribute to an improved working environment. This study showed that post-occupancy evaluation could contribute to a single refurbishment project as well as to the learning process, resulting in improved new refurbishment projects with regard to users’ working environment. Case study four investigated the impact of project governance. This study revealed weaknesses in project governance in the form of unsatisfactory information exchange.The research resulted in a new definition of briefing for refurbishment, which highlights the difference between briefing for refurbishment and new build projects. The research also resulted in a model which highlights the importance of establishing a balanced economy, organizational and service capacity in the early stages of a refurbishment or new build project so that steps can be taken if required to rectify defects and deficiencies, post-handover of the facility. The EOS model increases the awareness of the importance of linking facility management to the purpose of the facility; that is, as a production resource in supporting users’ working environment and acknowledging the importance of productivity in this regard.The studies showed that the fulfilment of the goal of a good working environment for users can be achieved by relatively small changes in the way that projects are undertaken.