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Assessment of Public Building Reception Spaces for Elderly Users

Abstract

Reception spaces are important components of public buildings because they provide the first point of contact between users and building services. For elderly users, the design and environmental quality of reception areas can significantly influence comfort, orientation, safety, and independence. Age-related changes in mobility, vision, hearing, balance, and cognitive processing may create difficulties when reception spaces are poorly designed. Assessing these spaces is therefore essential for promoting inclusive and age-responsive public buildings. This study assesses the design characteristics of reception spaces in public buildings with particular attention to the needs of elderly users. Key factors examined include entrance accessibility, reception desk height, seating provision, circulation width, signage, lighting, floor surfaces, acoustic conditions, and spatial organization. The study considers how these features affect the ability of elderly users to enter, navigate, wait, communicate, and access services within reception areas. It also examines the relationship between spatial arrangement and users' perceptions of comfort, safety, and ease of use. The research further considers the importance of clear visual and physical connections between building entrances, reception desks, waiting areas, and major circulation routes. Appropriate seating with adequate back and arm support can provide comfort for elderly users during waiting periods, while sufficient circulation space can reduce the risk of congestion and accidental falls. Clear signage, legible information displays, appropriate lighting, and good acoustic conditions can also improve orientation and communication for users with sensory limitations. In addition, the study examines environmental and operational factors that influence the usability of reception spaces. Thermal comfort, ventilation, glare control, noise levels, and the availability of assistance facilities can affect the overall experience of elderly users. The location of reception personnel and the visibility of service points are also considered important for providing assistance when required. These factors demonstrate the need for reception spaces to address both physical accessibility and broader user experience requirements. Despite the importance of inclusive design, reception areas in many public buildings may have inadequate seating, difficult-to-read signage, excessive noise, insufficient lighting, slippery floor finishes, or reception counters that are unsuitable for elderly users. Such deficiencies can reduce independence and increase discomfort or anxiety during building use. The assessment therefore emphasizes the need to integrate accessibility, safety, comfort, and clear spatial organization into the planning and design of public reception environments. The study aims to identify the architectural and environmental characteristics that contribute to elderly-friendly reception spaces in public buildings. The findings are expected to provide useful guidance for architects, facility managers, public institutions, and policymakers in improving reception areas to support dignity, independence, and safe access for older adults. By incorporating age-responsive design principles into reception spaces, public buildings can become more inclusive, welcoming, and functional for an increasingly diverse population.

Keywords: Public buildings, reception spaces, elderly users, age-friendly design, accessibility, universal design, waiting areas, wayfinding, seating design, visual comfort, acoustic comfort, safety, inclusive architecture, user experience.