How can buildings adapt to change? What are the necessary elements to create an adaptable piece of architecture that will challenge the thinking of how buildings are designed? There are many factors that affect how a building will change including users, functions, technology, climate, quantity, processes. Knowing that a building will change before the design process even begins is a first big step for the building designers in creating a piece of architecture that can change. This thesis explores the means and methods of creating an adaptable building.The program will have three components: commercial development, residential development, and medical office space. Each element will be designed in such a manner that change will be accounted for in the initial design. The change in this situation can be defined by the different elements that can change in a piece of architecture but limited to the users, function, quantity, climate, technology, processes. Each component will have its own identity, but each will be designed to accommodate change. This project will have a residential component which will increase the density of the area allowing small commercial businesses to thrive. The housing will be able to change to accommodate new styles of living, such as catering to the urban professional or young new couple looking to be close to the action of downtown. This component of the project will remain housing throughout the expected life cycle of the complex. And this is true for each part of the complex. The commercial development will also have constraints to what can be developed. The program for this component will be restaurants, cafes, small office space, retail, and service businesses. The same can be said for the medical offices of the complex. These spaces will be designed specifically for these medical offices. However in the future these can also become more traditional office spaces.The chosen site is in downtown Indianapolis along the canal between 10th and 11th street and will become an urban complex that will serve the surrounding community. The site is currently zoned as a medical/research site. However, there is a strong need for more residential and commercial development along the canal, as well as more space for medical research centers and offices, cafes, restaurants, shops, small office space. The canal will be engaged by the architecture in a manner which creates a sense of place and life for the pedestrian using the canal. Across the canal is a commercial building for Indiana University Medical Information Sciences. Another advantage of the site is the ability to connect with the Clarion People Mover, which connects the Clarion Medical Campus. Across the street to the north side of the site is a very large Clarion Research Laboratory which also connects with the People Mover. To the west of the site is a very large vacant lot. The assumption must be made that these lots will also have dense urban development. Parking for the program can be provided for on the site.The idea of change in architecture will be the theme of this thesis but within boundaries. It would be very unlikely a piece of architecture could be designed to fit all functions successfully. Therefore, these components have been formulated, and each of these will be designed within the limit of what can change within each component.