Dr. Mostafa Behzadfar Armanshahr Architecture & Urban Development 2008-5079 18 50 2025 05 22 Development of a Place-Based Social Sustainability Model in Architecture Faculties Using the Delphi Method and Shannon Technique Development of a Place-Based Social Sustainability Model in Architecture Faculties Using the Delphi Method and Shannon Technique 43 66 215203 10.22034/aaud.2025.482714.2918 FA Mansoureh Farokhi Ph.D. Candidate of Architecture, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Razieh Labibzadeh Assistant Professor of Architecture, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author). Hosein Zabihi Associate Professor of Urban Development, SSR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Journal Article 2024 11 14 The spatial quality in architecture faculties, shaped by students’ perspectives and attitudes toward their surrounding environment, can enhance the place-based social sustainability. This, in turn, increases spatial satisfaction and encourages students’ presence and productivity in such spaces. Social sustainability is one of the three pillars of sustainable development, and its theoretical framework can be applied toward improving the spatial quality of architecture schools. Given the significance of the topic and the lack of comprehensive research in this area, the present study aims to identify and define the components and indicators of place-based social sustainability using the Delphi method and expert insights. It further evaluates the relative importance and weighted influence of these factors on the enhancement of spatial quality in architecture faculties, thereby establishing a theoretical framework and developing a conceptual model. This research is categorized as developmental-applied in terms of purpose, and descriptive-analytical in terms of methodology. The research design employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches, emphasizing logical reasoning and analysis. Data collection was conducted through document analysis and a two-stage Delphi method (open interviews and closed questionnaires). Data analysis and evaluation were performed using SPSS software and the Shannon entropy technique. Based on the results obtained from interviews and questionnaire evaluations, the components of social sustainability that influence the qualitative structure of educational spaces in architecture faculties were identified. A model was developed accordingly, consisting of eight components and 54 associated indicators, each weighted according to its level of importance. The Shannon entropy algorithm was used to determine the weight and significance of each element. The findings indicate that the components of “Nature-Centeredness” and “Security” have the highest impact on improving the spatial quality of architecture faculties. Subsequently, “Facilities and Infrastructure,” “Physical Structures,” “Social Structures,” “Human-Centeredness,” and “Identity” were identified as influential components in spatial quality enhancement. The spatial quality in architecture faculties, shaped by students’ perspectives and attitudes toward their surrounding environment, can enhance the place-based social sustainability. This, in turn, increases spatial satisfaction and encourages students’ presence and productivity in such spaces. Social sustainability is one of the three pillars of sustainable development, and its theoretical framework can be applied toward improving the spatial quality of architecture schools. Given the significance of the topic and the lack of comprehensive research in this area, the present study aims to identify and define the components and indicators of place-based social sustainability using the Delphi method and expert insights. It further evaluates the relative importance and weighted influence of these factors on the enhancement of spatial quality in architecture faculties, thereby establishing a theoretical framework and developing a conceptual model. This research is categorized as developmental-applied in terms of purpose, and descriptive-analytical in terms of methodology. The research design employs both qualitative and quantitative approaches, emphasizing logical reasoning and analysis. Data collection was conducted through document analysis and a two-stage Delphi method (open interviews and closed questionnaires). Data analysis and evaluation were performed using SPSS software and the Shannon entropy technique. Based on the results obtained from interviews and questionnaire evaluations, the components of social sustainability that influence the qualitative structure of educational spaces in architecture faculties were identified. A model was developed accordingly, consisting of eight components and 54 associated indicators, each weighted according to its level of importance. The Shannon entropy algorithm was used to determine the weight and significance of each element. The findings indicate that the components of “Nature-Centeredness” and “Security” have the highest impact on improving the spatial quality of architecture faculties. Subsequently, “Facilities and Infrastructure,” “Physical Structures,” “Social Structures,” “Human-Centeredness,” and “Identity” were identified as influential components in spatial quality enhancement. https://www.armanshahrjournal.com/article_215203_a0e1b1a5e65774e63839100bc4f924e7.pdf