Mixed-use high-rise buildings are vertical superpositions of various business types in the category of mixed-use development. It has become a highly intensive organizational form in the urban high-density environment. Under China’s “height limit” policy, the simple superposition of business types does not meet the government requirements for planning, construction, and management, and does not fully utilize the advantages of the mixed development mode. The single utilization rate index used in the past could not accurately describe such buildings’ usage value and spatial variation characteristics. In this study, a quantitative analysis of data from eight construction projects was carried out, and a utilization rate index system was established at three levels, namely, the typical floor utilization rate k₁, business utilization rate k₂, and building utilization rate k₃. In terms of k₁, the emphasis was placed on the design elements of the mixed-use development and the variation of relative indicators. In k₂ and k₃, it was found that the business type, floor area, and utilization rate were negatively correlated. In conclusion, by establishing a hierarchical utilization rate calculation method, the efficiency values and design characteristics of mixed-use high-rise (MUHR) buildings were explored, which provide references for the future design of such buildings.

The environmental quality of conference and exhibition places in small- and medium-sized cities plays a crucial role in attracting exhibitors, fostering the growth of the conference and exhibition industry and enhancing the market competitiveness of these places. However, past decision makers have often adopted planning models from large cities, neglecting the interaction between conference and exhibition places in smaller cities and local lifestyles as well as urban environments. From an “environment-behavior” perspective, this study reveals the unique interaction mechanisms between exhibitors and the built environment within such venues. Moving beyond the limitations of traditional research that focused solely on physical indicators, we place particular emphasis on exhibitors’ behavioral adaptations and their overall exhibition experience in the convention environment. To address this gap, this study employs a mixed-method approach that integrates field surveys, interviews, and questionnaires to systematically collect data from 10 representative cases. First, a preliminary study was conducted to establish an evaluation index system for place environmental quality. Through regression analysis, six key indicators—such as promotional atmosphere, site accessibility, and surrounding urban development conditions—were identified as significant factors influencing place quality. Second, subjective evaluations were conducted based on users’ actual experiences and experts’ professional insights, leading to the development of an importance–performance analysis model to assess value expectations and place environmental performance. The results indicated that users had high expectations for elements such as parking availability, transportation facilities, and the surrounding commercial atmosphere. In contrast, experts emphasized the significance of proximity to urban transportation hubs, site accessibility, and the spatial orientation of public spaces in determining environmental quality. Moreover, differences in evaluations among experts from various fields revealed notable variations in focus and priority considerations. Finally, based on a statistical analysis of the survey results, this study proposes three design recommendations—“adaptation, attraction, and quality enhancement”—to optimize the environmental quality of conference and exhibition places in small- and medium-sized cities, offering both theoretical and practical guidance for future planning, design, and evaluation.

With industrial upgrading and increasingly diversified urban functions in small and medium-sized cities in China, the demand for convention and exhibition buildings has been steadily rising. However, current research mainly focuses on the planning and operation of such buildings in large cities, with a lack of systematic and targeted studies on small and medium-sized cities that have relatively limited resources and varied development orientations. According to data collection and field surveys of convention and exhibition buildings in 148 small and medium-sized cities nationwide, this paper constructs a case database and conducts in-depth research on building types and factor guarantee mechanisms. This study first employs cluster analysis to classify 73 typical cases, incorporating comparative analysis from multiple dimensions such as the city’s economic development level, characteristics of the convention and exhibition industry, primary functions, operational focus, service targets, and planning layout, based on literature review and expert opinions. It then proposes four convention and exhibition building positioning models—market type, production-based type, enclave type and comprehensive type—and analyzes the characteristics of their typical cases. Afterward, through surveys, literature reviews, and expert interviews, this study identifies relevant indicators—such as resource factors and development conditions—and applies the importance index method to select 19 core indicators. These are used to establish a factor guarantee indicator system comprising two levels: “city-related factors” and “regional-related factors”. Subsequently, by analyzing the development strategies and core support factors of different building types using the priority diagram method, this study clarifies the resource demands and development paths for each model. The results indicate that the positioning strategy for convention and exhibition buildings in small and medium-sized cities should align with local industrial foundations and stages of urban development, fostering the formation of differentiated and sustainable development models. This research offers theoretical support and practical guidance for the scientific planning and efficient construction of convention and exhibition buildings in small and medium-sized cities, contributing to improved functionality, regional economic growth, and optimized urban spatial structure.