Design for adaptability to contribute to the circular economy in construction

Purpose The construction industry’s sustainability challenge is exacerbated by rigid service life planning and a lack of adaptability in building design. This paper aims to bridge this gap by integrating Design for Adaptability (DfAd) principles into service life planning to enhance both building adaptability and alignment with circular economy (CE) goals and finding the main challenges in this area in the construction sector. Design/methodology/approach The study develops a conceptual framework that incorporates DfAd strategies to extend building service life and facilitate closed-loop material flows. It includes a critical analysis of adaptability strategies across different layers of the built environment and evaluates their potential to support CE objectives through qualitative assessment and structured synthesis of existing literature. Findings Initial results demonstrate that DfAd strategies enhance a building’s capacity to accommodate future functional changes, enabling easier transformation and reuse of components. This reduces construction waste and prolongs asset utility, contributing to sustainable material cycles and reducing environmental burdens across the building lifecycle. Research limitations/implications This research is primarily qualitative and regionally contextualized within Quebec’s construction sector. Although the framework has been empirically validated through expert feedback and case studies, broader quantitative validation and international benchmarking are required. Future research should focus on translating qualitative adaptability strategies into measurable indicators within digital environments such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). The study provides theoretical foundations and methodological directions for quantifying adaptability’s contribution to circular performance and for developing standardized adaptability assessment criteria. Practical implications The framework provides a practical tool for architects, engineers, developers and policymakers to integrate adaptability into design and management processes. By mapping adaptability strategies across building layers, it supports lifecycle decision-making, cost reduction and resilience enhancement. The framework informs future certification systems and design guidelines by linking adaptable design choices with CE objectives. For practitioners, it delivers actionable strategies to improve flexibility, reversibility and longevity in new and existing buildings, promoting more resource-efficient and future-ready construction practices. Social implications The research expands the notion of adaptability beyond technical performance to include social sustainability. It integrates criteria such as inclusivity, cultural preservation and user participation, ensuring that buildings remain functionally relevant and socially embedded over time. By emphasizing adaptability as a human-centred and context-responsive capacity, the study highlights its potential to strengthen community well-being, foster equitable access and maintain cultural continuity. Originality/value This research uniquely advances the field by operationalizing cross-layer dynamics, embedding social dimensions (inclusivity, cultural relevance) and empirically validating the framework with Quebec industry experts. Unlike prior works that catalogue strategies, our framework integrates adaptability with service life planning and CE in a prescriptive, design-oriented tool. This empirical input ensures the framework’s relevance, applicability and alignment with current industry challenges, promoting long-term flexibility and circularity in construction practices.