Towards an adaptability rating for buildings

The changing needs of building owners and users over time requires that buildings are adaptable to these changing needs over the lifecycle of buildings. Changes to building regulations, demand for enhanced building performance (e.g. in energy use), and the inadequate supply of new building stock (among other factors) further exacerbate the need to adapt existing buildings to meet changes to demand. This paper introduces research, which is aimed at developing guidelines for assessing the adaptability of buildings at the design stage (to promote Design for Adaptability) and for existing buildings. A theoretical model, which is based on literature review, for an adaptability metric is proposed. The metric is based on theoretical indicators of adaptability of three elements of a building (fabric, services and spaces) in relation to six adaptability features: adjustability, versatility, refit-ability, convertibility, scalability and movability. A background into the meaning and need for adaptability is followed by an overview of related research in this area. Thereafter the underlying assumptions and method for developing an adaptability metric are described. The paper concludes with a discussion on the potential application, benefits and limitations of an adaptability metric for buildings and identifies areas for further research.