This event will introduce a framework for understanding adaptability of buildings and specific design strategies, scenarios and solutions for increasing the longevity and sustainability of our built environment. The goal is to encourage designers to think beyond the stereotypes of what constitutes adaptability in buildings. Evidence from case studies and interviews with industry stakeholders will be used to demonstrate good practice and common pitfalls when designing for change.

Delegates will receive a compact card version of the Adaptable Futures toolkit developed by Loughborough University, containing:

• Methods to communicate and engage with clients, including briefing exercises and conceptual diagrams
• Design resources for adaptability, for example guidelines and change scenarios
• Approaches to assessing adaptability in buildings, such as change propagation and quantification.

Delegates will explore, through facilitated exercises, how the tools can be appropriated to suit a practice's briefing and design processes.

Speaker: Simon Austin

is Professor of Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University, leader of the Adaptable Futures project and member of the research team. He is also the founder director of Adept Management, a specialist management consultancy. Prior to this, Simon worked for Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Partners and Tarmac Construction. He has undertaken industry-focused research for over 25 years into design processes, modelling, integrated working and management techniques, information management, process re-engineering, value management and structural materials and their design. He is a member of various BSi and CEN standardization committees and a consultant member of two trade associations. His research portfolio has involved collaboration with many leading companies and organisations in the construction industry.

Core Curriculum topic

Climate – Sustainable architecture