Research Data for "How can we transform a university building into a modern teaching and research facility? Results from the Living Lab HIL User Survey"

The HIL building at ETH Zürich is being renovated, expanded and redesigned into a modern teaching and research building within “Living Lab HIL” project. Yet, systematic knowledge about how current users experience the building and how they assess spatial functions within and outside the building was not available. To this end, the ETH research group Spatial Development and Urban Policy (SPUR) conducted a survey in fall 2025 among HIL users, including students and staff who work and study in the building on a daily basis. The survey collected assessments of existing facilities, satisfaction levels, priorities for future spaces and functions, and spatial selections of most and least liked areas, providing both quantitative ratings and qualitative explanations. The results show clear preferences for improved study spaces, collaborative areas, and everyday amenities, along with persistent concerns about ventilation, indoor climate, crowding, and underused shared spaces. These findings offer guidance for the ongoing transformation of the HIL by identifying which functions and qualities matter most to users and by indicating where targeted interventions can most effectively enhance the building for teaching, research, and daily work.