Our expectations for a building’s usefulness have become less permanent. As user needs change rapidly, buildings often outlive their intended use. Buildings that are purpose-built are difficult to adapt and costly to renovate; conventional construction methods yield results that are too permanent. Demolition and new construction is costly, time consuming, and detrimental to the environment. Off-site fabrication provides greater efficiency by cutting waste and on-site construction time.
Buildings - like the neighborhoods they occupy - are not static and need adjustment to remain attractive, safe and useful. Buildings must be planned and constructed differently to adapt for changing functions, standards of use and modification.
The aim of this research is to offer potential solutions and demonstrate the benefits of integrating off-site fabrication with adaptable design strategies. The project is a high-rise building in an urban context that tests the integration of these two methods.