2021 Rutgers Making a Champion Guide

A B O U T T H E S T U D Y This report is based on a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) research study that was conducted in 2020 on the RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center at Rutgers University. The goal of the POE was to understand the use of the facility and the impact of the design on the institution, athletics program, and building occupants (i.e., staff and student-athletes). The focus of the study centered on several key design goals, including the use of the facility and its impact on occupant performance, wellness, and experience. This study relied on both quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry: • Staff Questionnaire: an online questionnaire was used to collect feedback from APC staff about their satisfaction with and perspectives about their experiences working in the facility. The staff questionnaire received 18 responses. • Student-Athlete Questionnaire: to understand the student-athlete perspective on the use and impact of the facility, an anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to student-athletes who regularly use the building. The student-athlete questionnaire received 49 responses, with participants from all four sports: Men’s Basketball (N=11), Women’s Basketball (N=5), Men’s Wrestling (N=22), and Women’s Gymnastics (N=11). • Staff Interviews: one-on-one virtual interviews were held with select staff to further understand their perspectives on the use and impact of the facility. There were 11 participants, including coaches, trainers, and administrators. • Archival Data: publicly available data was collected, with particular attention to before vs. after the facility opened. Data included such things as: team wins, winning streaks, record, tournament appearances, attendance, fundraising, and student-athlete recruiting metrics. 43 Perkins Eastman