Investigating Lighting Quality in Office Workstations: A Combined Approach Utilizing Virtual Reality and Physical Workstations

While recent studies suggest benefits of using immersive virtual reality (VR) technology to obtain user experience during the design process of spaces, it is still unclear whether VR can be used as a reliable tool to evaluate certain environmental features such as lighting quality. This study examines six daylight control options (electrochromic windows versus blinds with different degrees of daylight transmission and color) and their impacts on users' satisfaction and visual comfort in a physical office as well as its digital twin. The daylight control options were installed in a physical office setting located in Mississippi, U.S., where participants (N = 112) experienced each daylight control option and completed an online survey. Using Matterport, web-based 3D models of the office with the daylight control options were created. Participants (N = 35, study still in progress) explored the immersive virtual models using Oculus Quest 2 VR goggles on a university campus. A verbal survey was administered to obtain participants' feedback while they were experiencing the virtual office using VR. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted after participants' VR experience. Findings revealed high visual comfort ratings for electrochromic windows in both virtual and physical settings. However, results regarding perception of glare severity and overall satisfaction with workstations were inconsistent between the VR and physical setting. Findings from this study help the designers, architects, and stakeholders identify the optimal window design features to improve user experience and comfort for office workstations. Also, this study addresses the validity of VR as a tool to assess user experience of lighting quality in spaces.