The document discusses how to build cities that are adaptable to change over time. It outlines goals of defining adaptability challenges in Vancouver and engaging stakeholders to develop solutions. Current buildings are often not designed to adapt, leading to waste. The document defines adaptable space and discusses techniques like open building systems. Barriers to adaptability include costs and mindsets. Examples of adaptable buildings worldwide demonstrate flexibility in uses, structures, and renovations. The document proposes discussing adaptability in Vancouver's climate plans and building codes.

1. City Built for Change: How Does Vancouver Adapt? Vancouver City Planning Commission 26 March 2008

10. Vancouver: Waterfall Building Spaces designed for flexibility and future additions No fixed interior walls: walls can be readily moved or removed Any combination of residential and commercial occupancies permitted

11. Vancouver: BC Cancer Agency Research Centre LEED Canada Gold rating Interstitial service floors (secondary floor raised above structural floor) allow work spaces to be reconfigured as technology and services change “ Exceptional” 43% water savings and “extraordinary” 24% recycled construction and finishing materials used 77% of materials manufactured locally; 26% of raw materials extracted locally 98.5% of construction waste diverted from landfill

12. Seattle: South Lake Union Discovery Center Temporary use in a building designed for future transportation, reassembly and reuse in a new location Integrated joints separate building into four modules Gangway ramps can adapt to topography of new locations

13. San Francisco: Public Utilities Commission Building Solar panels on façade and roof Wind turbines on roof Water recycling system in basement Thermal chimneys pull hot air out of building Demountable building partitions allow for changing building uses over time

14. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Building 20 Solid wood structure built to support heavy loads Horizontal, and sometimes vertical, interior flexibility Non-descript architecture let users, rather than administration, dictate its use Built as temporary structure, but survived for 65 years

15. Osaka, Japan: NEXT21 Green roof and green terraces on each floor; Solar panels on roof First residential complex to use energy cogeneration system equipped with fuel cells Carbon dioxide reduction from this building alone equivalent to planting 5000 trees every year Easy, low impact renovations made possible through Systems Building approach

16. London: 30 St Mary Axe Core does not need to resist wind forces, meaning it can be designed as an open-planned steel structure that provides adaptable internal space Flexible and adaptable office space due to regular internal planning grid Natural lighting and ventilation system help tower consume 50% less energy than typical air-conditioned tower

17. London: Docklands Container City Uses existing, readily-available shipping containers as shells for new projects Interior fitted according to [changing] needs of users Very easily transferable when habitable space is self contained in one container More affordable housing because materials very inexpensive

18. Montréal: McGill Grow Home Smaller size, more affordable than traditional homes Energy savings from smaller footprint and choice of materials; surface materials selected for easy removal and upgrade Unpartitioned space allows users to arrange living space based on their needs

19. Allerton Bywater, England: Millennium Community Residential buildings have higher ceilings and flexible floor plates to allow for commercial use once demand warrants Homes designed to reduce energy and water consumption by 20% and also domestic and construction waste by 50% Live-work space incorporated into many dwelling units ; residents furnish units according to their needs

20. Barcelona: Eixample District Extension of old urban fabric; designed in mid-19th century Planned with mixed income zoning, regulated proximity of every unit to green space Residential population of 350,000 and work population of 300,000 Simple and successive block pattern inherently adaptable; much like “Design Parameters” on district scale “ wide variety of urban uses have been installed with admirable architectural flexibility”