Several studies indicate that virtual reality (VR) systems in general and the computer-assisted virtual environment (CAVE) in particular are useful for end-user participation in an environmental design process. This study describes the use of group discussions in a computer-assisted virtual environment (CAVE) in evaluating end-user participation in a planning and design process. The study discusses an extension (Y building) to the South Ostrobothnia Central Hospital, the environmental features that were possible to evaluate in the CAVE, and the utilization of a virtual environment in a hospital planning process.

The CAVE used in the planning process of the new extension of the hospital is a room comprising 3 walls, a ceiling, and a floor, on a scale of 1:1. Images generated using computer graphics cards are projected onto these surfaces, which, when viewed through stereoscopic glasses, are transformed into a three-dimensional full-scale environment.

The main aim of the project was to study the use of CAVE as a common platform and language for architects, other planners, and multiprofessional end-user groups participating in the planning and design process of a hospital building.

We collected qualitative end-user opinion data in the CAVE on the modelled study rooms. An examination room and a patient room were selected because hospitals regularly have multiple identical examination rooms and patient rooms. The third unit, the emergency centre, is a new unit in the South Ostrobothnia Central Hospital, and its design involved several functional issues.

The end users visited the CAVE environment in small focus groups. The total number of visitors in the CAVE was over 280. Approximately 90% of the visitors strongly agreed or somewhat agreed on the ease of commenting on the environment in the CAVE. The most important property of a CAVE-type virtual environment is its scale, i.e. the ability of visitors to perceive the environment as almost real. Most issues identified by the end-users in the modelled facilities were utilized by the architect in the detailed design of the facilities for South Ostrobothnia Central Hospital.

The potential use of virtual environments at different stages of the design process offers exciting possibilities. Technological development can also enable more extensive use of virtual environments in the future.