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London Facts

150m+ Buildings 21 Completed • 14 Under Constr.
300m+ Buildings 1 Completed
Tallest Building The Shard (306 m)
Global Ranking #50 in the world by no. of 150m+ completed buildings
Regional Ranking #3 in Europe by no. of 150m+ completed buildings
Country Ranking #1 in UK by no. of 150m+ completed buildings
First 150m+ Building NatWest Tower (1980)
Average Building Age 14 years
Most Common Function Office , 51%
Most Common Material Composite , 63%

All building-related facts are for 150m+ buildings.

Buildings See All Buildings in City

1   The Shard 2013 306 m
2   Twentytwo 2020 278 m
3   One Canada Square 1991 236 m
4   Landmark Pinnacle 2020 233 m
5   Salesforce Tower 2011 230 m
6   The Leadenhall Building 2014 224 m
7   Newfoundland 2020 220 m
8   Consort Place, East Tower 2022 216 m
9   Valiant Tower 2020 215 m
10   One Park Drive 2020 205 m
See full building list
CTBUH Height Criteria
  Completed   Arch. Topped Out   Struct. Topped Out   Under Constr.
1   The Shard 2013 306 m
2   1 Undershaft - 290 m
3   Twentytwo 2020 278 m
4   100 Leadenhall Street - 247 m
5   4 Portal Way, South Tower - 237 m
6   1 Lansdowne Road East Tower - 236 m
7   One Canada Square 1991 236 m
8   Spire London - 235 m
9   Landmark Pinnacle 2020 233 m
10   Salesforce Tower 2011 230 m
See full building list
CTBUH Height Criteria
  Completed   Arch. Topped Out   Under Constr.   Proposed

Building Function More Charts

Based on 35 Buildings Over 150m Height

 

Structural Material More Charts

Based on 24 Buildings Over 150m Height

 

Building Completions Timeline (Last 50 Years, 150 m+) Create Your Own Timeline

 
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CTBUH Initiatives

CTBUH Scandinavia Invades London
28 Jan 2020 – Event

CTBUH 2019 Global Walking Tour: 50 Forward | 50 Back
27 Jun 2019 – Tour Report

CTBUH UK Hosts Panel Discussion: Smart Cities / Smart Buildings
31 Jan 2019 – Event Report

More Initiatives

CTBUH Initiatives Related to London

CTBUH Scandinavia Invades London
28 Jan 2020, London – Event
Join the CTBUH Scandinavia and UK Chapters for a special joint event, featuring both local and international speakers including CTBUH Chairman Steve Watts.
CTBUH 2019 Global Walking Tour: 50 Forward | 50 Back
27 Jun 2019, Chicago – Tour Report
The CTBUH Urban Habitat / Urban Design Committee organized its sixth annual Global Walking Tours, which took place in 25 cities around the world.
CTBUH UK Hosts Panel Discussion: Smart Cities / Smart Buildings
31 Jan 2019, London – Event Report
The CTBUH UK Chapter hosted a panel discussion, speculating on the future of our built environment by reflecting on the lessons learned over the past 50 years.
2019 Tall Building Predictions for the Year to Come
22 Jan 2019, Chicago – CTBUH News
Check out our monthly predictions based on our industry intelligence to see what trends and milestones will shape the industry in the year to come!
The Glass Supper 2018
6 Dec 2018, London – Event
Glass Supper 2018 will discuss fast emerging smart glass systems and technologies in a number of presentations, including CTBUH Executive Director Antony Wood.
CTBUH Chief Executive Officer Conducts Speaking Tour of London
6 Dec 2018, London – Event Report
CTBUH CEO Antony Wood traveled to his native UK for a speaking and listening tour, including a keynote address and several dinners with key figures of the tall building industry.
2018 Global Walking Tour: Walking on Water Reports
2 Aug 2018 – Tour Report
This year's 2018 Global Walking Tour explored the role of tall buildings along waterfronts and other natural settings.
Talking Tall: Deputy Mayor Discusses London Plan
18 Jun 2018, London – CTBUH Journal Paper
In the 2018 CTBUH Journal Issue II, London Deputy Mayor for Planning, Jules Pipe, discusses the future of tall buildings in the city.
CTBUH UK Hosts Discussion: Protecting or Prohibiting?
22 May 2018, London – Event
The CTBUH UK Chapter held an event discussing the subject: “Are London’s Viewing Corridors Protecting or Prohibiting our City's Growth?"
CTBUH UK Presents: Exporting Tall
30 Apr 2018, London – Event Report
The UK Chapter recently held "Exporting Tall," a series of presentations highlighting the challenges and opportunities of designing tall buildings in countries outside the UK.
CTBUH UK Tours 22 Bishopsgate
23 Feb 2018, London – Tour Report
The CTBUH United Kingdom Chapter conducted an under-construction tour of 22 Bishopsgate, the tallest building under construction in the UK.
CTBUH UK Chapter Hosts: Geometry of Tall Buildings
29 Jan 2018, London – Event Report
The CTBUH UK Chapter recently hosted a conversation between architects and engineers on the geometry of tall buildings and its impact on the design trends of the future.
2018 Tall Building Predictions
17 Jan 2018, Chicago – CTBUH News
Check out all of our 2018 Tall Building Predictions, and dive into the full 2017 Tall Building Year in Review data report.
CTBUH United Kingdom Chapter Celebrates with Year-End Event
6 Dec 2017, London – Event Report
The CTBUH United Kingdom Chapter hosted its first annual year-end social event at McQueen in London. The event concluded a successful year.
David Malott Passes the CTBUH Chairman’s Gavel to Steve Watts
31 Oct 2017, Sydney – Conference Activity Report
On the second day of the 2017 Australia Conference, all conference delegates gathered in Sydney to see Steve Watts sworn in as the next chairman of CTBUH.
CTBUH Façade Fire Performance Workshop at University of Sydney
29 Oct 2017, Sydney – Event Report
One day before the CTBUH 2017 Australia Conference, delegates convened at the University of Sydney facilities in Darlington for the Fire Performance of Façades workshop.
Debating Tall: A Skyline Commission for London?
28 Jul 2017, Chicago – CTBUH Journal Paper
In the CTBUH Journal 2017, Issue III, two experts debate on the issues that the city of London faces regarding new tall building construction and protected historic views.
Tall Timber: A Global Audit
26 Jun 2017, Chicago – CTBUH Research
The CTBUH has produced its latest Tall Buildings in Numbers research study, entitled "Tall Timber: A Global Audit."
CTBUH UK Learns About "A Day in the Life of The Shard"
26 Jun 2017, London – Event Report
An audience of 100 streamed into the Warwick Business School on the 17th floor of the Shard, to hear about the challenges of operating the tallest building in Western Europe.
2017 Global Walking Tours: The Space Within Tall Buildings
21 Jun-7 Jul 2017 – Tour Report
The CTBUH Urban Habitat / Urban Design Committee organized its fourth annual Global Walking Tours, which took place in 15 cities around the world.
CTBUH Releases Initial Statement on Grenfell House Fire in London
14 Jun 2017, London – CTBUH-Related News Report
CTBUH Fellow Simon Lay authored an official statement on behalf of the CTBUH regarding the devastating Grenfell House fire that occurred in London on June 14.
CTBUH UK & ZHA: Tall Towers as Catalysts for Social Interaction
8 May 2017, London – Event Report
Zaha Hadid Architects and CTBUH UK hosted an event in the ZHA gallery space, featuring presentations and a panel discussion on tall towers as catalysts for social intercation.
Top 12 Happenings of 2016, Month-by-Month
19 Dec 2016, Chicago – CTBUH News
Check out the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's top stories of 2016 for each month and take a look ahead with the Council’s monthly predictions for 2017.
Global Twilight Walking Tours
25 Aug 2016, Chicago – Tour Report
The CTBUH UH/UD Committee organized its third annual Global Walking Tours in 13 cities around the world, examining public spaces in a twilight setting.
Tall Building Fire Safety Network Meeting & Seminar
22 Jun 2016, London – Event
Tall Building Fire Safety Network Meeting & Seminar will be held in Excel and it will collectively advance the understanding of fire risk management in tall buildings.
Motorsport Technology Transferred to the Design of Towers
10 Feb 2016, London – Event Report
A discussion on the application of Computational Fluid Dynamics, a successful technology in motorsport and aerospace, to architecture and tall buildings.
Does London Need Tall Buildings?
7 Oct 2015, London – Event Report
The CTBUH UK Chapter hosted a successful panel discussion posing the question "Does London need tall buildings?" at Grimshaw's Clerkenwell studio.
Warm Weather Spaces Walking Tours 2015
17 Sep 2015 – Tour Report
The CTBUH Urban Habitat / Urban Design Committee organized guided walking tours of 16 cities around the globe, focusing on urban habitats around tall buildings.
Rights of Light Breakfast Seminar
10 Sep 2015, London – Event Report
CTBUH UK and legal firm Fieldfisher held a successful event entitled Rights of Light, which featured presentations covering the age-old topic of access to light in dense cities.
3rd International Tall Building Fire Safety Conference, London
8-10 Jul 2015, London – Event
Fire Safety Management is a vital element in any company’s disaster plan. This conference addresses fire prevention, containment and extinguishing.
3rd International Tall Building Fire Safety Network Conference
8-10 Jul 2015, London – Event
Join the 3rd International Tall Building Fire Safety Network Conference on discussions on fire safety, fire detection and alarm, fire escape and evacuation, security and more!
CTBUH United Kingdom Chapter Launches in London
17 Jun 2015, London – Event Report
The CTBUH UK Chapter launched with an event at London’s BT Tower. Topics of discussion included a surge in high-rise construction in the city, and sustainability.
Tall Building Fire Safety Management Course, London
18-22 May 2015, London – Event
The Tall Building Fire Safety Management Training Course is packed with useful tools and techniques for those tasked with management, delivered over 5 days.
CTBUH ’UH’PDATE February 2015
26 Feb 2015, Toronto – CTBUH News
The second issue of CTBUH 'UH'PDATE goes over the success of the 7 Cities Winter Walking Tours and welcoming 5 new committee members.
Seven Cities Winter Spaces Walking Tour
29 Jan 2015 – Tour Report
The new CTBUH Urban Habitat / Urban Design Committee organized a highly successful Winter Spaces Walking Tour in seven cities around the world.
The Shard Chosen as Featured Building
1 Jan 2014, London – Featured Tall Building
The developers of The Shard showed remarkable tenacity in bringing it to fruition.
Best Tall Building Europe 2013: The Shard
7 Nov 2013, Chicago – Featured Tall Building
The Shard was recognized as the "Best Tall Building Europe" in the 2013 CTBUH Awards Program with presentations by Dave Elder and Bill Price from WSP Group.
2013 London Conference Report
Nov 2013, London – CTBUH Publication
The London Conference review covers the “Height and Heritage” conference, held in London from June 11-13, including panels, presentations, social networking events and technical tours.
The Barbican Exhibition: Chamberlin, Powell & Bon Architects
24 Sep 2013, London – Event
An exhibition of rare photographs taken by CP&B and watercolours by Powell. The first display in a series exploring the architecture and design of the Barbican.
The Leadenhall Building Chosen as Featured Building
Jul 2013, London – Featured Tall Building
The Leadenhall Building leans back to make way for views to St. Paul’s Cathedral and other historic sites in a crowded section of the City of London.
The Lloyd's Building Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
The Lloyd’s Building received strong opposition after its completion, and almost 30 years later, it still remains a very recognizable building in London.
One Canada Square + Canary Wharf Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
A tour of Canary Wharf is an object lesson in the kind of place-making that can stem from the exploitation of an increasing rarity and developer’s delight: a 100-acre blank space in a major…
Heron Tower Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
Heron Tower is a world-class office building at the heart of London’s financial district. Stretching 230 meters into the London skyline, the 46-story building is the tallest in the City of London.
Centre Point Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
The historic Centre Point tower is an exceptional example of architecture completed in 1967. Originally built as a speculative office building, it now stands as a historically significant building.
Broadgate Tower Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
The Broadgate Tower was the first tower building in the City designed specifically for the speculative market.
St. Paul’s Cathedral Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
A fortunate few were able to fully embrace “Height and Heritage” in the tour of St Paul’s. This tour provided a unique look at the history and structure of St Paul’s.
Tower 42 Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
The tallest building in the United Kingdom from 1980 until 1991 and the first major skyscraper in the City of London, Tower 42 encapsulates the theme of the conference: Height and Heritage.
Willis Building Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
The tour of 51 Lime Street, known as the Willis Building, started with a trip straight to the top floor and was quick to impress the delegates with a first stop at the 23rd floor’s expansive balcony…
30 St. Mary Axe Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
Since its completion in 2004, 30 St. Mary Axe has become a firm favorite, referred to by Londoners as “The Gherkin.” Incorporating multiple green features it set a new standard for high-rise design in…
20 Fenchurch Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
Set to complete in 2014, 20 Fenchurch Street is already a feature of the London skyline. The 38-story, 177-meter tower has been nicknamed “The Walkie Talkie” because of its distinctive shape.
The Leadenhall Building Technical Tour Report
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
Developed by British Land and Oxford Properties, The Leadenhall Building is an exceptionally complex, 52-story engineering project undergoing construction in the heart of the City of London.
City of London Walking Tour Report with Peter Rees
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
To truly gain an understanding of how to reconcile “Height and Heritage” one of the best options was to accompany the man whose job it is to do just exactly that. Peter Wynne Rees has been the chief…
Thames Boat Tour Report Hosted by Peter Rees
13 Jun 2013, London – Tour Report
The Thames Boat Tour started at Westminster Pier which lies below Westminster Palace and opposite County Hall and the London Eye.
CTBUH London Conference: Day Three Activity
13 Jun 2013, London – Conference
Tall Building Industry Gathers in London See the highlights from the tall building event of the year…
2013 London Conference: Height & Heritage
11-13 Jun 2013, London – Conference
In the midst of two decades of unprecedented tall building development globally, Europe has increasingly embraced the skyscraper, even in cities seen as “anti-tall.”
CTBUH 2013 London Height & Heritage Conference
11-13 Jun 2013, London – Conference
CTBUH held the 2013 Conference on: "Height and Heritage: The Unique Challenges of Building Tall in Historic Cities" in London.
The Broadgate Tower Chosen as Featured Building
Jun 2013, London – Featured Tall Building
The dramatic and highly visible structural system employed on Broadgate Tower is an innovative solution to the challenge of spanning the pre-existing railways that run under the site.
World Architecture News Interviews Conference Speakers
May 2013, London – CTBUH In the Media
Fifteen architects, engineers, and industry experts, set to speak at the CTBUH Conference in London 11-13 June, talk to World Architecture News about building tall.
London Conference Steering Committee Meeting
20 Mar 2013, London – Event Report
The Steering Committee for the 2013 CTBUH London Conference convened to discuss and confirm the final details of the Conference including the speakers, sponsorship, and tours.
London 2013 Steering Committee Meeting
4 Dec 2012, London – Event Report
Thirty members of the London 2013 Steering Committee, representing developers and a wide range of industry disciplines, met to discuss themes and strategies for the upcoming conference.
Heron Tower Chosen as Featured Building
Apr 2012, London – Featured Tall Building
Ten years in the making, the project finds itself well fit into its urban landscape and brings new vitality to the city.
Strata Chosen as Featured Building
Sep 2011, London – Featured Tall Building
From the outset, sustainability has been key to the building's evolution. This holistic approach to sustainable high-rise design will prove to be very useful for the future of tall.
London Report: Bucking a Western Trend?
Jul 2011, London – Tour Report
Executive Director Antony Wood visited the UK in July for the inaugural meeting of a future CTBUH UK Chapter and other endeavors.
Shard London Bridge Visit
23 Jan 2011, London – Tour Report
While in London, CTBUH’s Jan Klerks took the opportunity to visit the city's future tallest building; the Shard London Bridge, currently rising next to London Bridge Station.
IIT and University of Nottingham Design Collaboration
Mar 2009, Chicago – Event Report
Students from the University of Nottingham recently visited Chicago as part of a tall building design studio collaboration with the ‘Remaking of Mumbai’ studio at IIT.
2006 London Conference: Talking Tall 2
25 Sep 2006, London – Conference
Tall buildings are seen as a solution to high demand for city center space, as a tool for urban regeneration and as crucial landmarks to boost the brand identities of towns and cities.
2001 London Conference: Technology, Livability, Productivitiy
9-12 Dec 2001, London – Conference
Conference held in London in 2001 on Technology, Livability and Productivity in buildings for the 21st century.
Richard Pilkington of Oxford Properties Presents at London Conference
11 Jun 2013 – Video & PPT
The recent global economic turmoil that was experienced by all those involved in the design and construction industry has certainly left its mark on the world of the developer. London, which at that…
Foster + Partners on Sustainability in their Projects
3 Feb 2010 – Conference Video & PPT
Sustainability has been a central theme of Foster + Partners’ work for more than 40 years,with buildings like the Reichstag in Berlin (1992-99) and Commerzbank Headquarters in Frankfurt (1991-1997)…
CTBUH Releases Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2014
Dec 2014 – CTBUH Journal Paper
An All-Time Record 97 Buildings of 200 Meters or Higher Completed in 2014 and 2014 showed further shifts towards Asia, and also surprising developments in building functions and structural materials.
CTBUH Interviews Rem Koolhaas & David Gianotten from OMA
Feb 2014 – CTBUH Journal Paper
On the occasion of receiving the Best Tall Building Worldwide award at the 12th Annual CTBUH Awards Symposium and Dinner for CCTV Headquarters, Beijing, Rem Koolhaas, founding partner, Office for…
CTBUH Releases Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2013
Dec 2013 – CTBUH Journal Paper
By all appearances, the small increase in the total number of tall-building completions from 2012 into 2013 is indicative of a return to the prevalent trend of increasing completions each year over…
CTBUH Publishes Case Study on The Leadenhall Building in London
Jun 2013 – CTBUH Journal Paper
The Leadenhall Building leans back to make way for views to St. Paul’s Cathedral and other historic sites in a crowded section of the City of London, but it also springs forward with an innovative…

Videos

UK Chapter: Smart Cities / Smart Buildings
31 Jan 2019 – Peter Murray, New London Architecture; Simon Giles, Tyrens London; Carolyn Dwyer, City of London Corporation ; et al.

Polycentric vs. Monocentric: The Future of Vertical Urbanism?
22 Oct 2018 – Chair: Steve Watts, alinea Consulting; James Parakh, City of Toronto Planning Department; Koon Hean Cheong, Housing & Development Board; Helen Lochhead, University of New South Wales; and Peter Murray

Lean Core + Prefab Blade Wall System
31 May 2018 – Albert Williamson-Taylor, AKTII

More Videos

Videos Related to London

UK Chapter: Smart Cities / Smart Buildings
31 Jan 2019 – CTBUH Leader Presentations & Meetings; Peter Murray, New London Architecture; Simon Giles, Tyrens London; Carolyn Dwyer, City of London Corporation ; et al.
Peter Murray | New London Architecture Simon Giles | Tyrens London Carolyn Dwyer | City of London Corporation David Nicholl | ABB Patrik Schumacher | Zaha Hadid…
Polycentric vs. Monocentric: The Future of Vertical Urbanism?
22 Oct 2018 – Presentation at CTBUH 2018 Middle East Conference; Chair: Steve Watts, alinea Consulting; James Parakh, City of Toronto Planning Department; Koon Hean Cheong, Housing & Development Board; Helen Lochhead, University of New South Wales; and Peter Murray
Numerous cities are now developing along polycentric lines, with several urban “nodes” focused around tall building clusters that often compete for commerce, attention…
Lean Core + Prefab Blade Wall System
31 May 2018 – Presentation at CTBUH 2018 Chicago Tall + Urban Conference; Albert Williamson-Taylor, AKTII
The development of the lean-core + blade-wall system grew out of a brief to create a new high-rise living typology that was lean, flexible and driven by a standardized,…
Ribbons Over Islington: A Distinct Residential Tower in a Desirable London Neighborhood
30 May 2018 – Presentation at CTBUH 2018 Chicago Tall + Urban Conference; Aref Lahham, Orion City Road Trustee Limited; Sander Versluis, UNStudio
The Canaletto residential tower, located halfway between the City of London and Angel in Islington, comprises a 31-story tower with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom…
A Contemporary Conversion Gives an Old Tower New Life
30 May 2018 – Presentation at CTBUH 2018 Chicago Tall + Urban Conference; Nick Jarman, Stanhope; Nicholas Worley, Fletcher Priest Architects
Angel Court is located within the Bank of England Conservation Area, where no new high-rise buildings are permitted. However, by stripping an existing 1970s tower to its…
"Geometry of Tall Buildings" - a CTBUH United Kingdom Chapter Event
29 Jan 2018 – Other Videos; Patrik Schumacher, Zaha Hadid Architects; Anil Hira, BuroHappold Engineering; Kai-Uwe Bergman, Bjarke Ingels Group, [i]et al.[/i]
The London Committee of the CTBUH United Kingdom Chapter recently hosted [i]Geometry of Tall Buildings[/i], a conversation between leading architects and engineers on the…
Urban Policy Towards Tall Buildings Globally: The Architect’s Perspective
30 Oct 2017 – Presentation at CTBUH 2017 Australia Conference; Chris Wilkinson, Wilkinson Eyre
Tall buildings have an important role in defining the character of the City and they help reduce urban sprawl. However, when a building rises above the others on the…
When New Worlds Collide: Reconnecting the Medieval and Suburban City
30 Oct 2017 – Presentation at CTBUH 2017 Australia Conference; Earle Arney, Arney Fender Katsalidis
Tall buildings, although deeply normative, are exceptional in their impact. The battleground of reconciliation often manifests itself at the scale of the immediate public…
London and Sydney: Public Space as a Connector
30 Oct 2017 – Presentation at CTBUH 2017 Australia Conference; Ian Lomas, Make
Two projects, in Sydney and London respectively, are currently being designed and delivered for Brookfield. These schemes address different infrastructure challenges and…
Interview: Eric Parry
30 Oct 2017 – 2017 Australia Conference Interviews; Eric Parry, Eric Parry Architects
Eric Parry of Eric Parry Architects is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2017 CTBUH Australia Conference.
Interview: Steve Watts
30 Oct 2017 – 2017 Australia Conference Interviews; Steve Watts, Alinea Consulting
Steve Watts of alinea consulting and CTBUH Chairman-Elect is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2017 CTBUH Australia Conference.
Interview: Robert Foster
30 Oct 2017 – 2017 Australia Conference Interviews; Robert Foster, The University of Queensland
Robert Foster of The University of Queensland is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2017 CTBUH Australia Conference.
Exploring Geometry and Form in Tall Buildings
19 Oct 2016 – Presentation at CTBUH 2016 China Conference; Chris Wilkinson, Wilkinson Eyre
Wednesday, October 19, 2016. Guangzhou, China. Chris Wilkinson of Wilkinson Eyre, presents at the 2016 China Conference Plenary 5: "Beyond Guangzhou: Other Settings"…
CTBUH 2016 China Conference - Plenary 5: Beyond Guangzhou: Other Settings Q&A
19 Oct 2016 – Presentation at CTBUH 2016 China Conference; Vince Pirrello, Woods Bagot; Chris Wilkinson, Wilkinson Eyre; William Murray, Wordsearch; David Tickle, HASSELL
Wendsday, October 19, 2016. Guangzhou, China. Vince Pirrello of Woods Bagot; Chris Wilkinson of Wilkinson Eyre; William Murray of Wordsearch and David Tickle of HASSELL…
CTBUH Video Interview – Stefan Krummeck
18 Oct 2016 – 2016 China Conference Interviews; Stefan Krummeck, Farrells
Stefan Krummeck of Farrells is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Stefan discusses the high density development patterns of Hong Kong…
Shifting Urban Gravity, from “Central to Core” Business Districts
17 Oct 2016 – Presentation at CTBUH 2016 China Conference; Tim Blackburn, Swire Properties
In the age of the multi-million inhabitant city, the concept of a single, concentrated Central Business District is increasingly becoming unsustainable. As we are seeing…
The Largest Megacity in the World: Assessing the Urbanization of the Pearl River Delta
17 Oct 2016 – Presentation at CTBUH 2016 China Conference; Peter Kindel, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
With the world’s urban population expected to increase by roughly 2.5 billion people by 2050, developing an understanding of megalopolises is critical to understanding…
X Information Modeling: Data-Driven Decision Making in the Design of Tall Buildings
17 Oct 2016 – Presentation at CTBUH 2016 China Conference; James von Klemperer, Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
This presentation outlined X-Information Modeling or XIM, a method of data-driven decision-making for the design of tall buildings. Developed over its application on more…
City Hubs
17 Oct 2016 – Presentation at CTBUH 2016 China Conference; Keith Griffiths, Aedas
Our lives are adapting to a convenient, vibrant, and connected live-work dynamic, and our cities must change and respond to those new requirements. Much of the urban…
CTBUH Video Interview – Eric Parry
17 Oct 2016 – 2016 China Conference Interviews; Eric Parry, Eric Parry Architects
Eric Parry of Eric Parry Architects is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Eric discusses the design process of 1 Undershaft within the…
Panel Discussion: Future Cities: What are the Biggest Threats and Opportunities?
17 Oct 2016 – Presentation at CTBUH 2016 China Conference; Steve Watts, Alinea Consulting; Jianping Gu, Shanghai Tower C&D; Rui Gu, CAPOL; Ray Shick, Gensler; Chris Yoshii, AECOM
Monday, October 17, 2016. Shenzhen, China. A panel discussing the challenges of growing urban populations throughout the globe.
CTBUH Video Interview – Keith Griffiths
17 Oct 2016 – 2016 China Conference Interviews; Keith Griffiths, Aedas
Keith Griffiths of Aedas is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Chris discusses the concept of city hubs and the methodology of…
CTBUH Video Interview – Tim Neal
16 Oct 2016 – 2016 China Conference Interviews; Tim Neal, Arcadis
Tim Neal of Arcadis is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2016 CTBUH China Conference. Tim discusses the benefits of locating mixed-use projects near transportation…
Europe's Tallest: The Shard
27 Oct 2015 – Presentation at CTBUH 2015 New York Conference; Irvine Sellar, Sellar Property
London is considered one of the world’s safest harbors for investment capital. However, it has also been one of the lightning rods in the rapidly developing debate over…
Interview: Matthew Richards
27 Oct 2015 – 2015 New York Conference Interviews; Matthew Richards, JLL
Matthew Richards of JLL is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2015 CTBUH New York Conference at the Grand Hyatt New York. Matthew discusses the flow of international…
Interview: Cormac MacCrann
27 Oct 2015 – 2015 New York Conference Interviews; Cormac MacCrann, Canary Wharf Group
Cormac MacCrann of Canary Wharf Group is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2015 CTBUH New York Conference at the Grand Hyatt New York. Cormac discusses about the…
Interview: David Partridge
27 Oct 2015 – 2015 New York Conference Interviews; David Partridge, Argent
David Partridge of Argent is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2015 CTBUH New York Conference at the Grand Hyatt New York. David discusses .
Interview: Irvine Sellar
27 Oct 2015 – 2015 New York Conference Interviews; Irvine Sellar, Sellar Property
Irvine Sellar of Sellar Property is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2015 CTBUH New York Conference at the Grand Hyatt New York. Irvine discusses the design in the…
Challenges and Benefits of Integrating Public Space into Tall Buildings
26 Oct 2015 – Presentation at CTBUH 2015 New York Conference; Rafael Viñoly, Rafael Viñoly Architects
The integration of publicly accessible amenities into tall buildings is a desirable approach to expand the use of a given building to ever-broader segments of the…
Managing the Risk of Fire in Future Tall Building Environments
16 Sep 2014 – Presentation at CTBUH 2014 Shanghai Conference; Russ Timpson, Horizonscan
As urban communities become more densely populated and emergency access potentially more problematic, there will be a growing need to address the risks associated with…
Modernization: Renewing the Lifecycle of Vertical Transportation
16 Sep 2014 – Presentation at CTBUH 2014 Shanghai Conference; Franz Arnold, Schindler Elevators
Traditionally much of the focus in the tall building sector has been centered on the ground breaking technology being put in place for the pioneering “Skyscrapers of…
Will London's recent tall buildings ever develop a "heritage" status?
May 2014 – Monthly Video Series; Paul Finch, World Architecture Festival; Richard Pilkington, Oxford Properties; Peter Wynne Rees, City of London; Irvine Sellar, Sellar Property; Robert Tavernor, London School of Economics
Industry leaders answering this question include: Paul Finch, World Architecture Festival; Richard Pilkington, Oxford Properties; Peter Wynne Rees, City of London; Irvine…
Best Tall Building Europe: The Shard: Building Europe’s Tallest
7 Nov 2013 – CTBUH "12th Annual Awards"; Bill Price, WSP; Dave Elder, Mace
The winner of the Best Tall Building Europe award, The Shard is both heroic on the skyline and beautifully executed at the scale of the pedestrian, and clearly…
Interview: The Shard
7 Nov 2013 – 2013 Awards Ceremony/Symposium Interviews; Bill Price, WSP; Dave Elder, Mace
Dave Elder and Bill Price discuss The Shard, the Best Tall Building Europe Winner. They discuss the lengthy process of designing the building and then getting it through…
Constructing Tall Buildings in the European Context
12 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Paul Chandler, Skanska
When creating tall buildings in cities with centuries worth of history, does the past take precedence or does the future? For a contractor or developer sensitive to the…
Digital Engineering – Transforming Tall Buildings
12 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; David Scott, Laing O’Rourke
Tall buildings, in congested city centers, often combine major civil, structural, and services challenges and opportunities. Construction can cause major noise and…
Future Proofing Tall
12 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Ken Shuttleworth, Make Architects
The sensitivities of designing a new building in an old city are considerable: acknowledging the heritage of a location without creating a pastiche; providing a new layer…
London and Beyond: Regionalism and the British Skyscraper
12 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Ian Simpson, Ian Simpson Architects
There are very few architects who have built tall buildings across numerous cities in the UK, and yet several cities outside London have enthusiastically embraced the…
Session 14: Tall Buildings vs. Heritage
12 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Paul Finch, World Architecture Festival; Peter Murray, English Heritage; Robert Tavernor, London School of Economics; Simon Thurley, London's Centre for the Built Environment
Is the skyscraper an appropriate building typology for cities with hundreds – or thousands – of years of architectural history? Are there other ways to satisfy a city’s…
The Importance of the Skyscape
12 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Chris Wilkinson, Wilkinson Eyre Architects
With major cities throughout the world, it is not just the streetscape that is important but the skyscape – the view of the skyline from a distance – that is of equal…
Interview: London Development
12 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Steve McGuckin, Turner & Townsend
Steve McGuckin of Turner & Townsend is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Steve talks about the current…
Interview: The Shard
12 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Irvine Sellar, Sellar Property
Irvine Sellar of Sellar Property is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Irvine talks about the process of getting…
Interview: 20 Fenchurch
12 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Rafael Viñoly, Rafael Viñoly Architects
Rafael Viñoly of Rafael Viñoly Architects is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Rafael talks about Battery Park…
The Gherkin: Owning an Icon
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Kent Gardner, Evans Randall
30 St. Mary Axe, or the “Gherkin,” as it is more affectionately known, is arguably the most iconic tall building in existence in London. Embraced into national marketing…
The Leadenhall Building: Developed for London
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Richard Pilkington, Oxford Properties
The recent global economic turmoil that was experienced by all those involved in the design and construction industry has certainly left its mark on the world of the…
City Planning and Tall Buildings: Custodian to 4000 Years of History
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Peter Wynne Rees, City of London
The City of London has been at the center of the debate on "tall versus historic" over the past two decades, as witnessed by a number of now evocative words: Gherkin, St…
Breaking the Mold while Embracing Context in Historic Cities
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Rafael Viñoly, Rafael Viñoly Architects
The pieces of architecture which we place in cities are not singular objects but parts of a greater whole – which, once existing, will either function well in their…
Engineering Tall in Historic Cities
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Kamran Moazami, WSP; John Kilpatrick, RWDI
Historic cities present challenges for tall buildings. There are issues with urban landscape, viewing corridors, adjacent structures, confined access, buildability, and…
From London to Chicago: The Willis Group and Tall Buildings
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Carmine Bilardello, Willis Group
From the 1970’s seminal Willis Faber Dumas Ipswich building, through 51 Lime Street London (winner of the CTBUH 2008 Best Tall Building Europe award), to the Willis (ex-…
Matching Occupier and Landlord Needs: Supply and Demand in Tall Buildings
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Nigel Biggs & Nigel Smith, CBRE
As employee habits increasingly change and alternative workplace solutions become a reality, what do tenants want from their tall buildings and how is this affecting…
Reaching New Heights: The Shard
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Irvine Sellar, Sellar Property
There was perhaps no better example of a tall building that encapsulates the overall conference theme than The Shard. Subject to numerous planning enquiries and great…
Session 10: Developing High-Rise Living in the European Context
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Angela Brady, Harry Handelsman, John Mizon & Paul Monaghan
An increase in high-rise living in traditionally commerce-focused urban centers has been a key urban trend in cities across the entire globe. This has great possible…
Vital Signs, Vital Statistics – The Impact of Shape on Tower Economics
11 Jun 2013 – Presentation at CTBUH 2013 London Conference; Steve Watts, Alinea Consulting
Shape, more than anything, drives the cost of tall buildings; but to what extent does cost drive shape? The particular constraints of historic environments like London…
Interview: Community in Tall Buildings
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Angela Brady, RIBA
Angela Brady of RIBA is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Angela talks about the importance of social aspects in…
Interview: Manhattan Loft Gardens
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Harry Handelsman, Manhattan Loft Corporation
Harry Handelsman of Manhattan Loft Corporation is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Harry talks about the…
Interview: Heritage and Future of London Tall Buildings
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Kamran Moazami, WSP
Kamran Moazami of WSP Group is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Kamran discusses the history of the high-rise in…
Interview: Identity of British Architecture
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Paul Monaghan, AHMM
Paul Monaghan of AHMM is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Paul talks about the identity of British architects…
Interview: Leadenhall Building
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Richard Pilkington, Oxford Properties
Richard Pilkington of Oxford Properties is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Richard talks about how the Canadian…
Interview: High-Rises and the Urban Environment
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Lee Polisano, PLP Architecture
Lee Polisano of PLP Architecture is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Lee talks about the evolution of London and…
Interview: The Shape of Modern London
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Peter Wynne Rees, City of London
Peter Wynne Rees of City of London is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Peter discusses the success of London,…
Interview: Building Taller over Time
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Robert Tavernor, London School of Economics and Political Science
Robert Tavernor of London School of Economics and Political Science is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Robert…
Interview: Building Systems
11 Jun 2013 – 2013 London Conference Interviews; Vince Ugarow, Hilson Moran
Vince Ugarow of Hilson Moran is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2013 CTBUH London Conference at The Brewery, London. Vince talks about building systems including…
Interview: BREEAM and LEED
21 Sep 2012 – 2012 Shanghai Congress Interviews; Steve Watts, Davis Langdon
Steve Watts of AECOM Davis Langdon is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2012 CTBUH Shanghai Congress at the Jin Mao, Shanghai. Steve discusses the value of different…
Embodied Carbon and High-Rise
21 Sep 2012 – Presentation at CTBUH 2012 9th World Congress, Shanghai; Philip Oldfield, University of Nottingham
This presentation examines the significance of embodied energy and carbon in tall buildings. It presents the life-cycle carbon analysis (including both operational and…
Interview: Leadenhall Building
19 Sep 2012 – 2012 Shanghai Congress Interviews; David Scott, Laing O'Rourke
David Scott of Laing O'Rourke is interviewed by Jeff Herzer during the 2012 CTBUH Shanghai Congress at the Jin Mao, Shanghai. David talks about prefabrication of…
The Sustainable City
3 Feb 2010 – Presentation at CTBUH 2010 Mumbai Conference; David Nelson, Foster + Partners
Sustainability has been a central theme of Foster + Partners’ work for more than 40 years,with buildings like the Reichstag in Berlin (1992-99) and Commerzbank…
2009 Best Tall Building Award Winners: Broadgate Tower, London, UK
22 Oct 2009 – Presentation at CTBUH 2009 Chicago Conference; Timothy Poell, SOM
Timothy Poell, SOM presents at the CTBUH 2009 Chicago Conference. Each year the CTBUH recognizes excellence in tall building design and construction by conferring…
The Economics of Sustainability & Mixed-Use
22 Oct 2009 – Presentation at CTBUH 2009 Chicago Conference; Steve Watts, Davis Langdon
Davis Langdon’s cost model for tall buildings is a seminal reference tool in the industry. In addition, a complimentary reference for sustainable-economics in the context…
Towards More Sustainable Tall Buildings
5 Mar 2008 – Presentation at CTBUH 2008 8th World Congress, Dubai; Ken Dalton & Richard John, AECOM / Faber Maunsell
Ken Dalton of AECOM, presented his view that sustainability outcomes will only be fully successful if sustainability priorities are shared by the planners, investors,…
The Tall Building, Reconsidered...
5 Mar 2008 – Presentation at CTBUH 2008 8th World Congress, Dubai; Simon Allford, Paul Monaghan and Jeremy Melvin, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris
Simon Allford and Paul Monaghan, of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, highlighted the surprising revival of tall buildings in the UK since the late 1990s, through the work of…
Steel-Concrete-Steel: Unique Hybrids at London Tallest
5 Mar 2008 – Presentation at CTBUH 2008 8th World Congress, Dubai; Kamran Moazami, John Parker and Rodolfo Giannini, WSP Cantor Seinuk
Kamran Moazami, WSP Cantor Seinuk, showed the structural engineering design approach used to create the iconic tower named the ‘Shard at London Bridge’ (Architect: Renzo…
It’s Not What You Build, But the Place Where You Build It: Urban Sustainability in London
3 Mar 2008 – Presentation at CTBUH 2008 8th World Congress, Dubai; Peter Rees, City of London
Peter Wynne Rees of the City of London Corporation, mentioned that the three factors to ensure successful property acquisitions and sustainable developments have always…

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Research Papers

Does A Large-Scale Fire Propagation Test Ensure A Fire-Safe Cladding?
Jan 2019 – CTBUH Journal 2019 Issue I

A Vertical Transportation Analytical Tool For the Construction of Tall Buildings
Jul 2018 – CTBUH Journal 2018 Issue III

Out of Thin Air: The Potential for High-Rise Housing Over Rail Lines
Jul 2018 – CTBUH Journal 2018 Issue III

More Papers

Papers Related to London

Does A Large-Scale Fire Propagation Test Ensure A Fire-Safe Cladding?
Jan 2019 – CTBUH Journal 2019 Issue I; Abhishek Chhabra, Thomas Bell-Wright International Consultants
Substantial tall-building façade fires have continued to take place, even after the world was shocked by the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London in 2017. Much attention has…
A Vertical Transportation Analytical Tool For the Construction of Tall Buildings
Jul 2018 – CTBUH Journal 2018 Issue III; Julien Grange & Oscar Savage, Multiplex Construction Europe
The construction phase of 22 Bishopsgate, London, presented many challenges, but one of the greatest issues to overcome was the requirement to ensure comfortable and…
Out of Thin Air: The Potential for High-Rise Housing Over Rail Lines
Jul 2018 – CTBUH Journal 2018 Issue III; Bill Price, WSP
Cities are facing a crisis in providing housing and managing population growth. The author’s team has identified sufficient land associated with railway infrastructure to…
A Human-Scaled Future for Dense Development
Jul 2018 – International Journal of High-Rise Buildings Volume 7 Number 2; Ivan Harbour, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Critics of height argue that it de-humanizes our cities. Yet a critical mass is a necessity for vibrant city life, and height is a key contributor. If we can overcome the…
How to Protect High-Rise Egress Routes?
Apr 2018 – CTBUH Journal, 2018 Issue II; Grzegorz Sypek, SMAY Group
Recent, tragic high-rise fires have underscored a fundamental issue: the lack of protected escape routes in tall buildings. As we build a greater volume of ever-higher…
Planning for a Taller London
Apr 2018 – CTBUH Journal, 2018 Issue II; Jules Pipe, Greater London Authority
In the past decade, London has grappled with growing pains and critical questions about how its urban landscape should be developed. More than 200 buildings of 20 stories…
Debating Tall: Landscrapers vs. Skyscrapers
Apr 2018 – CTBUH Journal 2018 Issue II; Amy Webb, New York University; Julian Chen, Henning Larsen Architects
What does the office of the future look like? The leading tech industry giants all seem to agree the main goal is “connectivity” that forges collaboration and ideation.…
The Impact of Supertall Density on City Systems
Dec 2017 – International Journal of High-Rise Buildings Volume 6 Number 4; Bill Price, Andrew Bickerdyke & Meike Borchers, WSP; et al.
This paper discusses several topics associated with the densification caused by supertall buildings and their impact on city systems. The paper covers five key areas…
Rethinking CTBUH Height Criteria In the Context of Tall Timber
30 Oct 2017 – CTBUH Journal, 2017 Issue IV; Robert M. Foster, University of Queensland; Michael H. Ramage, University of Cambridge; Thomas Reynolds, The University of Edinburgh
Recent developments in the design and construction of progressively taller buildings using engineered timber as a structural material raise important questions about the…
Debating Tall: A Skyline Commission for London?
28 Jul 2017 – CTBUH Journal, 2017 Issue III; Barbara Weiss, Barbara Weiss Architects; Karen Cook, PLP Architecture
As hundreds of buildings over 20 stories are set to rise in London over the next few years, the Skyline Campaign, a non-profit organization, has asked Mayor Sadiq Khan to…
A “Fabric-First” Approach to Sustainable Tall Building Design
Jun 2017 – International Journal of High-Rise Buildings Volume 6 Number 2; Philip Oldfield, University of New South Wales
This research suggests the most effective way for improving energy efficiency in tall buildings is a “fabric-first” approach. This involves optimizing the performance of…
Bioclimatic Comfort Design for High-Rises
20 Apr 2017 – CTBUH Journal, 2017 Issue II; Jeroen Janssen, AKT II Ltd.
Building in an ever more urbanized world, with high-rise buildings increasing in both height and number, makes it essential to ensure we create comfortable urban spaces,…
Reaching for the Sky: The Determinants of Tall Office Development in Global Gateway Cities
1 Feb 2017 – CTBUH Journal, 2017 Issue I; Richard Barkham & Dennis Schoenmaker, CBRE Global Research; Michiel Daams, University of Groningen
There are numerous hypotheses about the social and economic processes that lead to the development of skyscrapers, but empirical evidence is scarce. In this article, the…
City Hubs
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Keith Griffiths, Aedas
Our lives are adapting to a convenient, vibrant, and connected live-work dynamic, and our cities must change and respond to those new requirements. Much of the urban…
High Intensity Urban Order
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Patrik Schumacher, Zaha Hadid Architects
Density via high-rise structures remains a primary agenda in our era of urban concentration. It is crucial to understand the societal forces that drive concentration:…
Exploring Geometry and Form in Tall Buildings
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Chris Wilkinson, Wilkinson Eyre Architects
Using four tower designs on four continents – the Guangzhou International Finance Center in China, the Crown Sydney Resort Hotel in Australia, 45 Bay Street in Canada,…
1 Undershaft – The City of London’s New Skyscraper Where the Public Comes First
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Eric Parry, Nick Jackson & Tanya Parkin, Eric Parry Architects
The paper will describe the aims underpinning the proposed development at 1 Undershaft in the City of London. The project will be exemplary in putting the public first,…
21st Century Vertical Lifestyles - Intergenerational, Integrated Communities
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Stephan Reinke, Stephan Reinke Architects Limited
How does the 21st Century youth culture of social media integrate and merge with an ever increasing tech savvy senior population? As our cities and urban environments…
The Rejuvenation of a Tall Building
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Albert Williamson-Taylor, AKT II Limited
The incredibly rapid urbanization observed in many of the larger cities in the world is forcing society, and the construction industry in particular, to think of new ways…
The Integrated Smart Design Technologies for Tall Building Structural Design
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Pamg Liu, YuCheng, Dorothee Citerne & Leo Zhang, Arup
A series of integrated smart design tools has been developed to satisfy different design requirements and to achieve an optimal balance between economics and safety. The…
The New Super Skinny Skyscraper Trend: Some Wind Engineering Considerations
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Stefano Cammelli, Sara Bisio & Yiqing Wang, BMT Fluid Mechanics Ltd.
A new and almost unprecedented model for skyscrapers is currently being explored within the Manhattan real estate market: these are the so-called super slender ultra-…
A “Fabric-First” Approach to Sustainable Tall Building Design
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Philip Oldfield, University of New South Wales
This research suggests the most effective way for improving energy efficiency in tall buildings is a “fabric-first” approach. This involves optimizing the performance of…
Remodel, Recycle or Rebuild? - Addressing the Fire Safety Challenges of Repurposing Skyscrapers
17 Oct 2016 – Cities to Megacities: Shaping Dense Vertical Urbanism; Simon Lay, Olsson Fire & Risk
Some of our established world cities are already facing the challenge of older tall building stock that is no longer relevant to the most commercially attractive uses.…
Megacities: Setting the Scene
Oct 2016 – CTBUH Journal, 2016 Issue IV; Daniel Safarik, Shawn Ursini & Antony Wood; Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat
The rise of the megacity presents unprecedented opportunities to understand the human urbanization phenomenon, and to observe the effects of multicore, polycentric cities…
The Other Side of Tall Buildings: The Urban Habitat
Feb 2016 – CTBUH Journal, 2016 Issue I; Daniel Safarik, CTBUH
A growing number of tall buildings recognized by the CTBUH, through its international awards programs and research, are noteworthy not so much because of their sheer…
Developing an Icon – The Story of the Shard
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; Irvine Sellar, Sellar Property Group
London is considered one of the world’s safest harbors for investment capital. However, it has also been one of the lightning rods in the rapidly developing debate over…
Making Cities – Examples of Urban Development in London
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; David Partridge, Argent
The paper uses the example of Argent’s work at King’s Cross to explore issues of density in mixed use city development, and the creation of a “human city”.
The Network of Urban Spaces Surrounding Tall Buildings
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; James Parakh, City of Toronto Planning Department
This paper investigates the Network of Urban Spaces Surrounding Tall Buildings, the Tall Building as Place Makers how Tall Buildings meet the street. As contributing…
The Promise of Public Realm: Urban Spaces in the Skyscraper City
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; Stephan Reinke, Stephan Reinke Architects
This paper will reveal the importance of integrating the Ground Plane, Mid-Level and Rooftop Urban Public Spaces in the City. We will explore the NYLON New York/London…
Context, Climate, Culture – Investigating Place in Tall Building Design
26 Oct 2015 – Context, Climate, Culture – Investigating Place in Tall Building Design; Robert Goodwin, Perkins + Will
Should a tower in Moscow look like one in Dubai? Once one entered a city and marveled at the unique magic of its architecture – the pastel classicism of St. Petersburg;…
Capturing the Placemaking Potential of the New Skyscraper City
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; Stefan Krummeck & Benjamin MacLeod, Farrells
This paper is a comparative analysis between Qianhai and an earlier case with which Qianhai bears many similarities: Canary Wharf in London. Both were envisaged by…
How New Generations, Industries and Workplace Paradigms Are Redefining the Commercial High-Rise
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; Timothy Johnson, NBBJ
This paper will provide a data-driven analysis of building performance from three eras: the early 1900s, mid-twentieth century, and today. This longitudinal analysis will…
The Vertical Master Plan
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; Temoor Ahmad & Neven Sidor, Grimshaw Architects; Steve Watts, Alinea Consulting; Adam Miller, Thornton Tomasetti
With over half of the world’s population now living in an urban environment, major world cities (especially) will always grow in population over time. To avoid city…
It’s Not About the Skyline, It’s About the Base Condition
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; Terri Boake, University of Waterloo
The rapid densification of cities is a fairly recent phenomenon and seems in many cases to be progressing without regard to important already established urban theory…
New Developments on Stainless Steel Façades with Regard to Reflectance, Corrosion and Aesthetics
26 Oct 2015 – Global Interchanges: Resurgence of the Skyscraper City; Joern Teipel, Outokumpu
Stainless steel is a key material in modern skyscraper architecture, exploiting the material’s sustainability, functionality and aesthetics. After an outline on some…
Fire Safety Strategies for Penthouse Designs
Aug 2015 – CTBUH Journal, 2015 Issue III; Hadrien Fruton & Karl Wallasch, Hoare Lea
Penthouses, with their luxurious amenities and uninterrupted 360-degree views over the city skyline, tend to be larger than normal apartments and often have unique design…
Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2014
Dec 2014 – CTBUH Journal, 2015 Issue I; Daniel Safarik, Antony Wood, Marty Carver & Marshall Gerometta, CTBUH
An All-Time Record 97 Buildings of 200 Meters or Higher Completed in 2014 and 2014 showed further shifts towards Asia, and also surprising developments in building…
From Block to Blob and Back Again
Nov 2014 – CTBUH Journal, 2014 Issue IV; Ben van Berkel, UNStudio
United Network Studio (UN Studio) is a Dutch architecture firm founded in 1988 by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos, which in the 2000s established offices in Shanghai and…
Green Walls in High-Rise Buildings
Sep 2014 – CTBUH Journal, 2014 Issue III; CTBUH Research
The latest CTBUH technical guide, Green Walls in High-Rise Buildings, provides a thorough investigation of the methods used around the world for implementation of…
The New Context of Tall
Feb 2014 – CTBUH Journal, 2014 Issue I; Rem Koolhaas & David Gianotten, OMA
On the occasion of receiving the Best Tall Building Worldwide award at the 12th Annual CTBUH Awards Symposium and Dinner for CCTV Headquarters, Beijing, Rem Koolhaas,…
Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2013
Dec 2013 – CTBUH Journal, 2014 Issue I; Daniel Safarik, Antony Wood, Marty Carver & Marshall Gerometta, CTBUH
By all appearances, the small increase in the total number of tall-building completions from 2012 into 2013 is indicative of a return to the prevalent trend of increasing…
The History of the European Skyscraper
Jun 2013 – CTBUH Journal, 2013 Issue II; Nathaniel Hollister, CTBUH
Due to the compact and historic nature of its cities, some unpopular designs, and an unfortunate association with public housing, Europe had historically been slow to…
Case Study: The Leadenhall Building, London
Jun 2013 – CTBUH Journal, 2013 Issue II; Andy Young, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners; Nigel Annereau, Arup; Andy Butler, Laing O’Rourke; Brian Smith, Davis Langdon
The Leadenhall Building leans back to make way for views to St. Paul’s Cathedral and other historic sites in a crowded section of the City of London, but it also springs…
From “Dry and Safe” to “Tall and Sharp” / Owning an Icon
Jun 2013 – Irvine Sellar, Sellar Property; Kent Gardner, Evans Randall
The owners of two of London’s most significant skyscrapers, Irvine Sellar of the Shard and Kent Gardner of the Gherkin, spoke with CTBUH about the challenges and rewards…
The Special Nature of the European Skyscraper
Jun 2013 – CTBUH Journal, 2013 Issue II; Viewpoints: The London Conference
European architecture is at a crossroads. Its commercial and environmental realities are driving buildings ever-higher, but not all are convinced. In this article –…
Debating Tall: Limit Tall Buildings to the Outskirts of Historic Cities?
11 Jun 2013 – CTBUH Journal, 2013 Issue II; Phillippe Chaix, EPADESA; Sir Stuart Lipton, Chelsfield Partners
Tall building construction is on the rise in historic European cities. As economic pressures mount to build taller in the central city, we ask, should that practice…
Building Tall in a 2,000-Year-Old City
May 2013 – CTBUH Journal, 2013 Issue II; Peter Murray, Wordsearch
Much attention has been paid to London’s current wave of tall building construction. But the city has been getting taller – and more interesting – for the last three…
Office vs. Residential:The Economics of Building Tall
May 2013 – CTBUH Journal, 2013 Issue II; James Barton & Steve Watts, Davis Langdon
When it comes to tall buildings in London, the sky’s the limit, and not necessary in terms of height. With rents among the highest in the world and investors eager to see…
Engineering Tall in Historic Cities: The Shard
May 2013 – CTBUH Journal, 2013 Issue II; Kamran Moazami & Ron Slade, WSP
Can historic cities preserve their character and identity while embracing the modern tall building phenomenon? Two engineering-team leaders behind the Shard discuss the…
The Shard, London, UK
13 Jan 2013 – Corporate Publication
As the tallest skyscraper in Western Europe, The Shard takes its name from the four shards of the doubleglazed glass façade set at various angles, towering more than 20m…
Urban Models for the 21st Century
Sep 2012 – CTBUH 2012 9th World Congress, Shanghai; Stefan Krummeck, TFP Farrells Limited
Recently, Asia has witnessed an astonishing proliferation of high-rise buildings. Towers are growing in numbers and in height which presents enormous opportunities and…
Embodied Carbon and High-Rise
Sep 2012 – CTBUH 2012 9th World Congress, Shanghai; Philip Oldfield, University of Nottingham
This paper examines the significance of embodied energy and carbon in tall buildings. It presents the life-cycle carbon analysis (including both operational and embodied…
Debating Tall: Is UNESCO Going Too Far?
27 Apr 2012 – CTBUH Journal, 2012 Issue II; Paul Finch, Architectural Review and UK Design Council; Marie-Noel Tournoux & Patricia Alberth, UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Controversy has erupted over development proposals in London and Liverpool in the UK, which UNESCO says will damage views of World Heritage sites. Critics counter that…
Integrating Wind Turbines in Tall Buildings
Nov 2011 – CTBUH Journal, 2011 Issue IV; Ian Bogle, Bogle Flanagan Lawrence Silver
The world is constantly changing. Our energy demands are increasing daily and global population is expected to increase by another 50% to 9 billion people by 2050.…
So You Want a Tall Building?
May 2011 – CTBUH Journal, 2011 Issue II; John Worthington, DEGW
Having devised tall building strategies for Rotterdam, Dublin and London, he is the kind of guy who is called in as cities start to think about adding tall buildings. As…
The Importance of Real Life Data to Support Environmental Claims for Tall Buildings
May 2011 – CTBUH Journal, 2011 Issue II; Joana Gonçalves, Universidade de São Paulo (FAUUSP); Klaus Bode, BDSP Partnership
One of the main causes of energy efficiency failures is LEED rewarding projects for their predictions, but not for proving the savings. The operation of buildings…
Tall Timber Buildings: Applications of Solid Timber Construction in Multistory Buildings
Feb 2011 – CTBUH Journal, 2011 Issue I; Matthew Wells, Techniker
Standing nine floors and 29 meters (95ft) tall, the Stadtaus in London is indeed not very tall when regarded by height, but it does stand out as one of the tallest timber…
The Origin of the Skyscraper
Feb 2011 – CTBUH Journal, 2011 Issue I; Gerard Peet, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
The modern skyscraper is generally considered to be an American invention. Chicago and New York claim they once hosted the world's first skyscraper and many American…
The Economics of High-rise
Oct 2010 – CTBUH Journal, 2010 Issue III; Steve Watts, Davis Langdon
Includes comparative studies of high-rise construction costs based on location and building function. Key high-rise cost drivers = shape & geometry, size & regularity of…
The Tall Building, Reconsidered.....
Mar 2008 – CTBUH 2008 8th World Congress, Dubai; Simon Allford, Paul Monaghan & Jeremy Melvin, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris LLP
This paper examines the surprising revival of tall buildings in the UK since the late 1990s, through the work of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. Founded in 1989 by four…
Towards More Sustainable Tall Buildings
Mar 2008 – CTBUH 2008 8th World Congress, Dubai; Ken Dalton & Richard John, AECOM
The paper covers with the view that sustainability outcomes will only be fully successful if sustainability priorities are shared by the planners, investors, developers,…
Steel-Concrete-Steel: Unique Hybrids at London Tallest
Mar 2008 – CTBUH 2008 8th World Congress, Dubai; Kamran Moazami, John Parker & Rodolfo Giannini, WSP Cantor Seinuk
This paper presents the structural engineering design approach used to create the iconic tower named the ‘Shard at London Bridge’ (Architect: Renzo Piano Building…
It’s Not What You Build, But the Place Where You Build It: Urban Sustainability in London
Mar 2008 – CTBUH 2008 8th World Congress, Dubai; Peter Rees, City of London Corporation
This paper argues that a wise property developer who wishes to avoid leaving a clumsy trail of carbon footprints across the planet will therefore choose sustainable…
The Economics of Supertall Towers
Nov 2007 – CTBUH Wiley Tal Journal, 2007; Watts, Steve; Kalita, Neal & Maclean, Michael, Davis Langdon
This paper addresses global economic factors infl uencing the decisions leading to the development of super-tall towers, including population growth and urbanization,…
New Paradigms in High Rise Design
Aug 2004 – CTBUH Journal, Fall 2004; Antony Wood, University of Nottingham
Tall Buildings are perhaps the most keenly debated building typology currently in existence. By relating this to recent tall buildings internationally, the paper…

Browse hundreds of other papers published by CTBUH members on a range of multi-disciplinary subjects in the Research Papers Library