Developing a spatial planning framework for improving indoor air quality in kindergarten settings within shop office buildings

Purpose Kindergartens, as small-scale early education institutions, are increasingly being established in refurbished commercial buildings due to the limited availability of purpose-built facilities. However, the adaptive reuse of such spaces often compromises indoor air quality (IAQ) due to increased building airtightness and inadequate ventilation. This study contributes by developing a performance-oriented spatial planning framework that integrates regulatory requirements, spatial design principles, and IAQ outcomes. It further addresses the unique constraints of adaptively reused shop office buildings, offering context-specific decision criteria for kindergarten environments. Design/methodology/approach The research integrates three key phases: (1) consolidation of existing design and regulatory guidelines related to IAQ and space planning, (2) field investigation of classrooms, common areas, and kitchens to identify IAQ performance issues and (3) expert evaluation to validate the relevance and applicability of the proposed framework. Findings Findings reveal that spatial and IAQ-related parameters, such as orientation, floor area, windows, ventilation strategies, location and compartmentation, play a critical role in IAQ performance. Research limitations/implications This study is scoped to assess IAQ conditions and spatial characteristics within adaptively reused shop offices as kindergarten settings during an active operational period in a tropical climate context. Practical implications The proposed spatial planning framework offers practical design guidance and retrofit decision making for designers and kindergarten operators involved in the adaptive reuse of commercial buildings for early childhood education. Social implications The framework contributes to safer and healthier learning environments by reducing exposure to air pollutants commonly associated with inadequate ventilation in refurbished buildings. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by developing a spatial planning framework that integrates IAQ considerations into the adaptive reuse of small-scale educational buildings.