Evaluating employee satisfaction in a green-certified public building: the case of Küçükçekmece Municipality

Although green building certifications aim to promote environmentally sustainable design, their impact on user experience and spatial satisfaction remains underexplored. This gap raises questions about the extent to which sustainability goals align with user expectations. This study investigates employee satisfaction in the Küçükçekmece Municipality New Service Building, the first public administration building in Türkiye certified by BREEAM. Multiple variables, including physical environmental comfort, perception of green building features, functionality, and motivation, were analyzed. A mixed-method research design was used where quantitative data were collected using 5-point Likert scale surveys and qualitative data were collected via interviews with open-ended questions. Frequency analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), t-test, ANOVA, and Chi-Squares test were used to analyze the study data. The results indicated that certain environmental factors, including lighting and ergonomics, were associated with relatively higher satisfaction levels, while there was significant dissatisfaction as regards indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Furthermore, it was found that demographic variables, including gender and age, had significant effects on motivation levels. The study results suggested that the physical environment in sustainable public buildings should be assessed not only in terms of technical but also psychosocial aspects.