Adaptation is located in the Cal Johnson building on State Street in Knoxville, Tennessee. Adaptation is a community maker studio as well as a retail space for black-owned businesses in Knoxville. Adaptation creates a strong sense of inclusion through the activities that take place, the material and design choices influenced by people from various backgrounds, and the space’s ability to adapt to the community’s needs. As one approaches the front doors, they are engulfed in a jungle of plants on display for Oglewood Avenue, a small business in Knoxville.. After entering the doors, one is greeted with a large open space with a centralized conversation pit upholstered by Knox Upholstery. During certain times the conversation pit can be converted into a stage by removing the back couch cushions, placing them on the ground, and the ceiling plane then lowers to become a stage. The centralized stage will be able to be used for open mic poetry nights, concerts, performance art, and other events for the community.. To the right of the conversation pit is the retail space for local small businesses and makers. Some Knoxville small businesses that will be highlighted here are Oglewood Avenue, Harper’s Naturals, Marc Nelson Denim, and Kay Kouture Co. The back of the space includes two elevated community maker spaces where the community can come together to create. The backspace is more focused on a maker who prefers a more private work environment. The space and the furniture within it can adapt and can change to serve the needs of the community. Each of the spaces are filled with furniture that can be changed to accommodate the maker's needs. The chairs can be converted into art easels by attaching a board to the back of the chair. Each chair has a slit in the back that can hold either a maker’s tote bag or hold an easel to paint and draw on. Overall, this space aims to use adaptive elements to create an inclusive and creative space for the community.
