Measuring Human Experience in Architecture

Move from intuition to evidence.

How do we know whether a building supports the people who use it—cognitively, emotionally, and socially?

Measuring Human Experience is an advanced, practice-focused workshop developed by the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture (ANFA) and DIALOG. Over four days in Calgary, you’ll explore scientific assessment approaches that could complement human-centred post-occupancy evaluations (POEs) combining explicit feedback and implicit psychological testing.

Working in small groups with guidance from an international faculty, you will:

• Gain an introduction to foundational concepts from environmental psychology and neuroscience that are relevant to architecture and urban design.
• Explore methods for capturing human experience such as: surveys, cognitive tasks, and other implicit measures.
• Visit real buildings—including the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre and the Calgary Central Library—and engage with selected assessment tools on site.
• Consider how a human-centered POE might be adapted to your own project and how results may inform clients and decision-makers.
• Have the option to be part of a growing body of case studies and a potential short documentary that will share the story of this work with a wider audience.

Who this workshop is for:

• Mid- to senior-level architects, designers, and planners
• Healthcare, higher-education, workplace, and civic project leaders
• Researchers in neuroscience, psychology, or environmental design seeking closer ties to practice
• Advanced graduate students with a strong interest in evidence-based design

You do not need to be a statistician or neuroscientist to participate. The focus is on practical tools and workflows that illustrate how human experience can be measured and integrated into real projects.

For more information, please visit our website: measuringhumanexperience.com

Note:

Some assessment activities in the experimental days are part of a research study. Contributing data to the research is entirely voluntary. Only data from participants who provide informed consent will be included in the study and used for workshop activities. Participants who choose not to contribute can still fully take part in all workshop activities. All data collection will follow informed consent procedures, and participants can withdraw at any time.

Info: The workshop will open with an overview of its goals and structure, followed by sessions exploring why measuring human experience matters in architecture and how cognitive science and psychology inform design. Participants will be introduced to the Community Wellbeing Framework and potential methods to measure human experience, alongside perspectives from Experience Economy design. The session will conclude with group formation and preparation for fieldwork.

Info: In the morning, participants will engage in implicit (computer-based) psychological testing related to real environments, followed by explicit on-site assessments using the Community Wellbeing Framework and tailored questionnaires to deepen their evaluation. The afternoon will shift to networking and informal exchange, providing time for participants to reflect, connect, and discuss insights from the day.

Info: The morning will focus on a second round of implicit testing in alternate case studies, followed by a second round of explicit on-site assessments to later evaluate findings across different environments. In the afternoon, participants will engage in design-thinking micro-sessions and collaboratively map design metrics.

Info: Participants will begin with a guided experiential tour of the Calgary Public Library, grounding the day’s discussions in a real-world setting. The session will continue with a final group exercise and later a presentation of explicit and implicit findings from the experimental days, followed by group discussions and reflections. The workshop will conclude with a closing session highlighting key takeaways and opportunities for future collaboration.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher ANFA + DIALOG