Children’s perspectives on classroom environments: A participatory post-occupancy evaluation of thermal comfort and air quality

Zapata-Lancaster, Gabriela ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3239-131X and Smith, Thomas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7221-1868 2026. Children’s perspectives on classroom environments: A participatory post-occupancy evaluation of thermal comfort and air quality. Building Research & Information 10.1080/09613218.2026.2644939 Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The evaluation of buildings in operation is essential for improving indoor environmental quality and advancing sustainability. However, traditional post-occupancy evaluation (POE) methods are typically designed for adults, often overlooking children’s perspectives. This study integrates architectural science with creative, qualitative approaches to recognise children as active agents in shaping their environments. Focusing on primary school children (ages 5–11), it explores how they perceive and understand the indoor environment in their classrooms, as well as the strategies they use to achieve thermal comfort. Children expressed their sensory experiences and adaptive actions through drawings and group discussions, while the research team collected in-situ measurements of temperature and carbon dioxide in the classrooms. The findings reveal how children articulate (dis)comfort, perceive their ability to influence their surroundings, and employ adaptive strategies at both personal and environmental levels. Children’s reported comfort generally aligned with measured temperatures in summer, although the relationship between their perceptions of air quality and measured carbon dioxide levels was less clear. This research demonstrates the value of child-centred approaches for evaluating indoor environments. Such methods not only enhance understanding of children’s comfort but also support environmental education, empowering children and teachers to co-create healthier, more comfortable learning spaces.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Geography and Planning (GEOPL) Schools > Architecture
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) N Fine Arts > NA Architecture
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	0961-3218
Funders:	EPSRC, Cardiff University
Projects:	521026
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	11 March 2026
Date of Acceptance:	9 March 2026
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2026 09:56
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/185602

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