This case-study investigated which tools and techniques building planners use during the architectural design process in order to anticipate future building-user experience. Preliminary qualitative analysis of seven semistructured interviews with key stakeholders involved in the planning of a university building revealed that architects and designers mainly rely on past experience and tacit knowledge, rather than using systematic pre-occupancy evaluation methods. Based on insights from interdisciplinary research, this article seeks to encourage further discussion of need-analysis for assistive tools in architectural design.