The purpose of this article is to show the use of the Post-occupation Evaluation as an instrument of the participatory design process. In the presented case, the APO made possible the collaboration of the residents of the central campus of UFRN in the architectural programming for a new university residency proposal and its influence in the preliminary project. In addition to the use of sustainability and flexibility concepts, the APO results contributed to propose of spaces that promote privacy and interaction between residents, respecting the demands and limitations of the institution, such as quick and step-by-step construction.