Environmentally  friendly

Safety

Sustainability

economically 

Since the question is about design, the key parameter to have in mind at the design stage are:

- choice of fasteners that join the elements together (use bolts instead of welding so that elements are easy to dismantle and re-use)

- choice of elements that are reusable

- choice of materials that are recyclable

1. Column spacing

2. Floor to floor height

3. I've found that steel frame buildings are far more easily adapted that concrete buildings.  It is easier to reinforce them to accommodate heavier floor loads.  It is also easier to provide new penetrations in the floors and walls for new utilities.

4. The electrical system should have spare capacity and each electrical panels should ideally be provided with 20% spare circuits.

5.  The HVAC systems should be expandable, with space allocated for the addition of future equipment.

6. Oversizing the column footings and structure for the future addition of upper stories can also be considered.

In Frank Lloyd Wright's Johnson office building, each column was provided with four utility chases.  They were designated for electricity, plumbing, telephone and "future".  The fourth was eventually used for data lines.

My answers are similar to Mr. Schill's. I'm thinking of modularity not in terms of pre-fabrication or of a uniform size, but as a measure of each frame, bay or unit being independently functional or self-supporting. The first three tend to determine the viability of a proposed adaptation and the others influence efficiency/cost:

MEP systems themselves are harder to characterize. Spare breakers or empty pads & conduits are helpful for day-to-day facilities maintenance, upgrades and tenant or user changes. In my experience, major adaptations tend to come with significant changes to or replacement of those systems. Having a spot to add a cooling tower cell may not help much when all of them are being replaced and you need to add two generators and their switchgear because the new use is 24/7.

Robustness

Stability

Economics

Reliability

Quality

Durability/Sustainability

Refer Chapter 2 in Brand, Stewart. How Buildings Learn: What Happens after They're Built. New York: Penguin Books, 1995.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Buildings-Learn-Happens-Theyre/dp/0140139966

1 durability

2.stability

3.strength aspect

4.Econamical

5.SAFETY CONDITION

6. Follow the codal provision

There is a huge number of factors/ variables which affect the adaptability of any building, with different degrees of impact and influences. The most significant ones are at least:

The question is very interesting and important as the life of a typical building is about 70-80 years or even more if maintained well. So if we look at the this life time and dynamics of it use what factors come in mid will be your answer.

So before finalizing your design give most weight to its life time and functionality. So as I think you think of following aspect

a) Functionality of building which is going to change over the years of its life.

b) Change in life style of occupants who are going to use this building as it is the prime objective of the building.

c) How climate is changing so you must provide adequate flexibility to do required changes in future to improve indoor environment. 

d) Comfort expectations of occupant are ever increasing. So one must consider this and provide adequate room to apply them in future if needed.

e) You must study the regional environment very carefully and make a list of natural and man made hazards(history of hazards) that may damage the building and put life at risk. So comply with this requirement. This may be a variable because of changing climate over the life time of building.

f)  Also keep I'm mind the building energy performance requirement which are dynamic in nature and becoming more stringent over the years. So Please look in future and make provisions to meet this requirement (Net zero energy building and so on).

I hope that I am able to meet your expectation in replying to your question. Each point I mentioned above is broad and lot of minute details are their to take care of.

Regards,

Manoj

Depends.  For a residency you must pay attention to the aging of the user and design accordingly.

For public spaces you should consider:

Environmental impacts

Universal design

Energy

Sustainability

Adaptability

A functional form

The most rapidly changing parameters of building performance are due to following aspects:

1. Climate change: change in 'High Flood Level, so the sizing of plinth level, positioning of service equipment like transformer, DG set, chiller plants etc. which if submerged can cause havoc. availability of drinking water in case of  a few-days no-supply etc.

2. Refrigerant phase out: New types of refrigerant and HVAC system are to be put into your building, so should have a design thinking that way.

3. Power: New solar could be commercially more viable than coal-based supply. South west corner of roof should have some provisions.

4. Nano tech can make your envelop more resilient. should have some provisions.

5. You may be using your roof for farming. so leave some provision for that.

Thanks.

J think that there are a numerous aspects of building design that promote the building adaptability in the future and J will mention only environmental aspects such as : environmentally friendly building materials, saving energy and energy efficiency, sustainability, prevention of risks from nature disasters, functionality etc