Visual Quality Analysis of Educational Institutions and Their Surroundings: A Case Study of Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey

The study aimed to analyze the visual quality of the Educational Institutions and their Surroundings (EITS) in the campus of Ataturk University in Erzurum city of Turkey. Visual Quality Analysis Questionnaire was applied to 74 students studying at the Faculty of Architecture and Design. The questionnaire consisted of 21 EITS. Results were analyzed using Variance and Duncan multiple comparison. It was determined that Faculty of Fishery (EITS13) had the highest visual quality score (3.243), followed by Agriculture Faculty (EITS1: 3.134) and the Divine Faculty (EITS2: 2.906). The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine had the lowest visual quality score (EITS11: 2.165), followed by High-Tech Research Centre (EITS20: 2.243) and Faculty of Law (EITS16: 2.315). Statistically significant relationship was found between the department of the students and the scores they gave to Sports Science Faculty (EITS1), Education Faculty (EITS4), Faculty of Medicine (EITS10), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (EITS11), Faculty of Fine Arts and Tourism (EITS15), and Rectorate Building (EITS19). Among the Visual Quality Criteria (VQC) of EITS, accessibility to the structure (VQC12) was the most effective criterion (2.927, p<0.05). This study recommended the correction of design deficiencies to compensate for the lack of visual quality of new buildings or to improve the entire landscape of the campus.