30 January 2020

Determinism, Integration, and Articulation Lead Up to a Landmark

Brian Lee, Thomas Kinzl, Inho Rhee & Ronald Johnson, SOM

Completed in 2019, the Tianjin Chow Tai Fook (CTF) Finance Centre is currently the seventh-tallest building in the world, tied with the Guangzhou CTF Finance...

05 February 2018

2017: Skyscraper History’s Tallest, Highest- Volume, and Most Geographically Diverse Year

This 2017 Tall Building Year in Review / Tall Buildings in Numbers data analysis report shows that more buildings of 200 meters’ height or greater...

10 January 2017

Interactive Study on Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2016

Jason Gabel, Annan Shehadi, Shawn Ursini & Marshall Gerometta, CTBUH

CTBUH has determined that 128 buildings of 200 meters’ height or greater were completed around the world in 2016 – setting a new record for...

17 October 2016

Megacities: Setting the Scene

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 growing together...

17 October 2016

Overcoming MEP and VT System Design Challenges in Three of the Tallest Buildings in China

Vincent Tse, Herbert Lam, Kenneth Li & Michael Sung, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff

This paper will address the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and drainage, and vertical transportation system (MEP/VTS) design challenges encountered during the design development of three unique,...

17 October 2016

Utilization of BIM and Façade Optimization via Computer Technology in a Super High-Rise

Christopher King, New World Development Company Limited; Guan Ting, Gehry Technologies; Yawu Su, China Construction 8th Engineering Division

Tianjin Chow Tai Fook Finance Centre (TJCTF) is a mixed-use development with a total gross floor area (GFA) of 389,980 square meters. This 530-meter-tall building...

17 October 2016

Next-Generation Supertall Tower Form Determinants: A Study of the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre

Brian Lee, William Baker, Inho Rhee & Ronald Johnson, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP

This paper puts forth the elements of an integrated design approach to mixed-use supertall towers that is based on rationally creative strategies that encourage efficiency,...

17 October 2016

From Icon to Community: The Repositioning of the Mega Tower in the City Context

Bryant Lu & Guymo Wong, Ronald Lu & Partners

Historically, mega-towers were frequently labelled “egocentric displays of power,” becoming iconic symbols of a city or an individual. In today’s age of global hyper-urbanization, supertall...

26 October 2015

The Inevitability of Global Adaptation: Eastern and Western Developers Practicing Internationally

Samuel Luckino & Peter Brannan, Arquitectonica

For architecture and engineering firms serving development clients who build large-scale urban projects in various corners of the world, the effort is often facilitated by...

31 December 2014

Interactive Study on Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2014

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...