CTBUH Journal International Journal on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat

Tall buildings: design, construction, and operation | 2012 Issue III

China Special Issue: 9th World Congress

Greenland’s “Breathing Tower” in Wujiang ’s Advanced Façade Technologies Details on China’s Unique Linked Towers Special Report: China’s New Economy Meet the President of Inside the China Broad Group

Special Issue Sponsored by: This Issue

Editor Kevin Brass, CTBUH In 1929 the Sassoon buildings around the globe that exceed 300 [email protected] House opened in meters – 24 of those are in China!

Associate Editors Shanghai along the Robert Lau, Roosevelt University Bund at an incredible China is dealing with the issues and [email protected] height of 77 meters challenges of developing urban environments Antony Wood, CTBUH/Illinois Institute of Technology and 13 floors. The art on a massive scale. The migration of a great [email protected] deco structure, built portion of the country’s 1.3 billion people

Editorial Board for Victor Sassoon, was the tallest building in from a rural society to an urban society has Ahmad Abdelrazaq, Samsung Corporation China at the time. Although far shorter than demanded that the Chinese government Mir Ali, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign the 381-meter , which embrace the tall building as possibly the only Richard W. Bukowski, Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. Mahjoub Elnimeiri, Illinois Institute of Technology was two years away from completion in New strategy to create vibrant, livable cities – and Gary C. Hart, Weidlinger Associates York City, the Sassoon was a major they are putting their exclamation mark to it. Peter Irwin, RWDI achievement for China and a symbol of The Chinese have fostered a global Tim Johnson, NBBJ Zak Kostura, Arup Shanghai’s growing international prominence. partnership with some of the most creative Gary Lawrence, AECOM The high-rise was born in China! and skilled urban planners, architects and Simon Lay, AECOM engineers from the West to create more tall Sam Lee, Guangzhou Scientific Committee Tony McLaughlin, Buro Happold It wasn’t until 1990 that another significant tall buildings in a short period of time than any Philip Oldfield, University of Nottingham building would again define the Shanghai period before them. Lester Partridge, AECOM skyline. With the completion of John Jason Pomeroy, Pomeroy Studio Swinal Samant, University of Nottingham Portman’s Shanghai Center, China was back Now China is entering a new era in its tall Steve Watts, AECOM Davis Langdon on the map. Through a complex of three building history. As documented in this Peter Weismantle, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill buildings, the tallest rising to 165 meters and special issue of the CTBUH Journal, the talent Michael Willford, Arup 48 floors, and its signature “Portmanesque” working on the next generation of China Design & Layout inner drop-off covered courtyard, this urban buildings is on the cutting edge of new Tansri Muliani enclave set in motion a boom in tall buildings technologies and new designs. Sustainability [email protected] that is still steaming forward today. and efficiency are now at the forefront of the Steven Henry [email protected] tall building planning process, not an Today the 492-meter Shanghai World afterthought. Creating landmark towers is Published by Financial Center, completed in 2008, is the only part of the equation in China these days. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat © CTBUH 2012 tallest building in China and the third tallest ISSN: 1946-1186 building in the world. However, this will be But many challenges lie ahead. The World short lived as the adjacent Shanghai Tower Congress is bringing together the broad Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat S.R. Crown Hall, Illinois Institute of Technology will soon zoom by on its way to 632 meters multi-disciplinary cast customary with CTBUH 3360 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60616 and 121 floors. At this writing the tower is events from around the world to share ideas, t: +1 312 567 3487 constructing its fourth of eight zones that are exchange best practices, and present leading f: +1 312 567 3820 stacked and enclosed by twisting sky gardens innovation in the field of tall buildings. The e: [email protected] that rotate up around the tower, creating the level of expertise and experience represented www.ctbuh.org dynamic signature and internal social spaces at the Congress is truly amazing. Perhaps Copyright that will make this building an instant more than any single event, the Congress will © 2012 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. landmark and the second tallest building in capture the energy and spirit of the industry All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any the world when it is completed in 2014. at this key moment in China’s tall building means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in history. writing from the publisher. The history of the “tall building” in Shanghai is

Image Copyright a fitting foundation for the excitement and CTBUH Journal has endeavored to determine the copy- enthusiasm for our 9th CTBUH World Congress Onward and Upward, right holders of all images. Those uncredited have been in Shanghai. The continued pace of tall sourced from listed authors or from within CTBUH building construction in China is Print unprecedented and there is no mystery to This Journal is printed by Source4, Chicago. why our most important CTBUH event is Front cover: Center, Wujiang © SOM hosted in one of the most exciting cities and Back Cover: Suzhou Center – “The Lung” © SOM countries in the world. Currently there are 63 Timothy Johnson, CTBUH Chairman / NBBJ

2 | This Issue CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III Inside

News and Events Features 12 Case Study: Greenland’s Suzhou Center, Wujiang A Unique Collaboration Results in “Breathing” Tower in the province of China (see Figure 2), level, separate lobbies ensure that each use the building’s dynamic tapering form can operate independently. The latest project in the long partnership between Skidmore, Owings & Merrill eff ectively unifi es its offi ce and residential and the Greenland Group, a 358-meter tower in Wujiang, incorporates passive uses within a gently curved volume that Shaped by the prevailing views, prominent th ventilation techniques into the design to create a unique interior “lung.” culminates in a 30-story tall opening which wind direction and environmental marks the tower’s presence on the city skyline. performance factors, the design and 02 This Issue 32 9 World Congress Shanghai In today’s world of increasingly sophisticated setting precedents for the design of tall positioning of the tower contribute to design technology, it is rare to fi nd an buildings in China and throughout the world. Like many of the SOM towers now being defi ning a place of memorable and lasting established architect/client partnership that designed for Greenland, this building is in the value. The design takes full advantage of its Ross Wimer William Baker has consistently advanced the innovation of This paper focuses on the most recent fi rst phase of a new development that unique and dramatic location immediately Timothy Johnson, Speaker Program tall building design. Capitalizing on their addition to the team’s collaborative portfolio. encompasses many city blocks. It needs to be adjacent to the lake as well as the pedestrian successful collaboration on At 358 meters, Greenland Group Suzhou the catalyst that encourages other developers promenade which defi nes the heart of the (formerly Nanjing Greenland Financial Center), Center marks the Wujiang waterfront with an to follow. Since the adjacent blocks have yet Wujiang central business district. The the architecture, engineering, interior design aerodynamic form that has a unique to be developed, the Suzhou Center will designers’ decision to orient the tower in the and urban planning fi rm of Skidmore, Owings presence, while accommodating its program function as a “city within the city.” With offi ce, east-west direction is in direct response to CTBUH Chairman & Merrill (SOM) has since partnered with with economy and effi ciency. The design retail, residential and hotel uses, the complex two environmental factors–the wind and sun. Shanghai’s Greenland Group on several incorporates passive ventilation techniques is active throughout the day. Although Elongating the tower in the east-west Mark Nagis Aaron Mazeika important, high-profi le additions to the through a unique interior “lung,” creating an housing a mix of uses within a tower is a direction takes advantage of solar radiation at Greenland portfolio: Zhengzhou Greenland effi cient “breathing” tower. complex task to design and construct, by the times of the day when it is most benefi cial, Authors Plaza, Jiangxi Nanchang Greenland Central stacking the uses and providing shuttle while minimizing the impact when it is least Ross Wimer, Director Plaza Parcel A, Jiangxi Nanchang Greenland elevators to access sky lobbies for each advantageous. 46 Tall Buildings in Numbers William Baker, Partner Zifeng, Greenland Center Dawangjing and Site and Context program, the core works effi ciently. At ground Mark Nagis, Associate Figure 1. Greenland Group Suzhou Center, Wujiang. © Aaron Mazeika, Associate Director Greenland Group Suzhou Center, as well as SOM Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) several design competitions (see an overview With a total building area of more than 224 S. Michigan Ave., #1000 Chicago, IL 60604, United States of these projects at the end of this article). 284,000 square meters, Greenland Group 04 CTBUH Latest The Tallest 15 Cities in China t: +1 312 554 9090 These towers are designed to anchor large Suzhou Center will become the defi ning Site and Context e: [email protected]; [email protected]; developments and act as world-class visual landmark for the new Wujiang lakefront [email protected]; [email protected] 1 Lake Taihu www.som.com monuments within these new districts, while development and, by extension, for the city as 2 Regional Bus Depot also introducing new technologies that are a whole. Sited prominently along Lake Taihu 3 Primary Pedestrian Paths Ross Wimer has created innovative architectural 4 Panoramic View to the South projects in over 20 cities on fi ve continents. Although 5 Retail Podium Antony Wood, 6 Local Elevated Train Stop the majority of these designs are for large scale mixed-use programs such as Leamouth Peninsula 7 Central Retail Plaza & Media Wall in London, Infi nity Tower in Dubai, and White 8 Ballroom Drop-off Magnolia Plaza in China, his projects are dramatically 9 Hotel Drop-off diverse. Since joining SOM in 1995, he has worked to 10 Office Drop-off 12 integrate the rigor and logic of engineering into his 11 Retail Drop-off designs. Environmental sustainability and expressive 12 Panoramic View to the North CTBUH Executive Director 48 Talking Tall: Navigating the structure typically help defi ne the aesthetic of his 13 Local Bus Stop architecture, which can be seen in projects such as 14 Prevailing Summer Wind Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza. 15 Primary Development Axis 4 William Baker is a Structural Engineering Partner at SOM and a member of the CTBUH Board of Trustees. Throughout his career, Bill has dedicated Approval Process for Tall himself to structural innovation. His best known 1 contribution has been to develop the “buttressed core” structural system for the , the world’s tallest manmade structure. While widely regarded for his work on supertall buildings, his expertise also 8 extends to long-span roof structures, such as the 3 5 Virginia Beach Convention Center, as well as specialty 7 9 15 05 Debating Tall: Is China’s Buildings in China, structures like Broadgate-Exchange House. 10 2 Mark Nagis has had the opportunity to work on diverse and innovative architectural projects throughout the Middle East and Asia. Notable 11 projects include the Greenland Central Plaza, a pair of 13 289 meter tall towers in Nanchang, China, as well as Property Bubble Ready to Brian Lee the Greenland Group Suzhou Center. Aaron Mazeika has led the structural engineering team in the design of over 30 high-rise towers in 6 14 China. Notable projects include the New Poly Plaza in Beijing, China, which features the world’s largest cable-net supported glass façade, and the Al Hamra Figure 2. Suzhou Center contextual plan. © SOM Burst? Tower in Kuwait City, Kuwait. 1212 || Greenland's GreGGrGreenland'sr enlennln andaannd'ss Suzhou SuzSSuSuzhouuzzhouhhoouo Center, CeCCenter,ententeter,r ,Wujiang WujWuWWujiangujjiananng CTBUHCCTCTBCTBUHTTBUHUH JournalJou ouoJournalurnarnanal | | 201220121 IssueIsIssuesueu IIIIIIII CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III Greenland's Suzhou Center, Wujiang | 13 52 Design Research 06 Global News Hi-Rise, Lo-Carb Highlights from the CTBUH global news archive 54 Inside the China Broad 26 Research: China’s Unique Linked Towers Finding Structural Solutions by Connecting Towers Featured linked towers Group A study of a number of linked high-rise towers in China finds designs Pazhou 1301 & 1401 Developments, Guangzhou anchored by innovative, unimposing structural solutions, which address issues Both towers comprise two very slender blocks linked by a common lift corridor of costs and buildability. More than simply making a dramatic visual statement, the links play an integral role in the buildings’ functions. Height: 100 m ( Block 1301),120 m (Block 1401) Total Area: 74,000 sq m (Block 1301), 100,000 sq m (Block 1401) Antony Wood Confi gurations: 5 levels of podium & 3 levels of basement (Block 1301), Linked towers are still a rarity in the design of solving a number of problems and off ering 4 levels of podium & 2 levels of basement (Block 1401) . Perhaps the most famous is the new opportunities in the design and usage of Andrew Luong Michael Kwok Primary Use: Offi ce (Block 1301), Hotel (Block 1401) Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, but the buildings including: Client: Guangzhou ZhanHui Real Estate Development the linkage in the Petronas served as more Design Architect: Aedas Authors than just an architectural gesture. Structurally ƒ providing better masterplanning and Andrew Luong, Director Michael Kwok, Director there is little purpose to the skybridge, massing relationship in the site and to the Arup although the link it is an integral part of the neighboring architecture; Block 1301. © Aedas 39/F–41/F Huaihai Plaza fi re evacuation strategy and allows facilities to ƒ eff ective use of a limited and constrained 1045 Huaihai Road Shanghai 200031 be shared between the two towers over those site; Ningbo Gate China several levels, in addition to off ering an ƒ increasing fl oor plate size; Figure 2. Ningbo Gate. © RSHP Two very slender tower blades connected through a common lift corridor t: +86 21 6126 2888 observation deck, a popular attraction. ƒ providing a functional link of the two Case Study e: [email protected] CTBUH Height: 152 m Traditionally, the structural treatment for such connecting towers, where the link structure The Pazhou projects, Block 1301 and Block www.arup.com Confi gurations: 2 levels of podium & 2 levels of basement linkage bridges has been to design them to houses an important functional allocation 1401, are characterized by emphatic building Primary Use: Residential Andrew Luong “breathe,” through the use of movement joints of the overall architectural program of the forms which are a play on the massing of Client: Ningbo Hongtai Real Estate Development Co., Ltd Andrew is a Director with Arup in China and he or clever articulation, allowing the two buildings. In fact in all of these buildings, monolithic blocks ruffl ed in the vertical Design Architect: Rogers, Stirk, Harbour, and Partners (RSHP) leads the Arup Structures team in Shanghai. Andrew connecting towers to act independently. the link is a critical part of the building, (podium part of the buildings) and horizontal LDI: Ningbo Architectural Design & Research Institute has over 17 years of experience and has worked in © RSHP diff erent parts of the world including Australia, Hong without which it will not work functionally. (tower part of the buildings) directions. With Kong, London, India and China. He has an in-depth knowledge of design codes from diff erent parts of Recently a number of high-rise projects in the 1301 tower housing offi ces and the 1401 Shenzhen Energy Headquarters Building the world, and has a holistic, inter-disciplinary ap- China have taken the connected form beyond tower designed as a hotel (see Figure 1), the Two offi ce towers linked at the podium 12 Greenland’s Suzhou Center, 59 CTBUH on the Road proach to the design and management of projects, the mere passage link. These projects have Function through Form architectural designs have successfully from inception through to construction. Height: North Tower – 208.5 m, South Tower – 100 m been bold and innovative in developing the produced two very diff erent buildings with a He has made key contributions to a number of award- Confi gurations: Linkage structure connects the two towers at podium winning, landmark and complex buildings including link as part of the overall building design, as Several of the China projects illustrate the way common aspiration of showcasing slender, level from levels 2 to 9, 4 levels of basement Two International Finance Centre, Beijing Olympic well as an architectural expression and the links in the towers can serve important solid structural blocks linked by light common Green Convention Centre, CCTV New Headquarters Primary Use: Offi ce Beijing, Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2, symbolic use, such as that of a gateway. The roles within the building design beyond circulation corridors. In the process, the linked Client: Shenzhen Energy Group Co. Ltd. Wujiang CTBUH events around the Rajiv Gandhi Airport, Hyderabad, and City University Design Architect: Bjarke Ingels Group links in these projects serve a greater role, aesthetics. blocks address the issues associated with a of Hong Kong Multi-media Building. long rectangular fl oor, while providing © BIG Michael Kwok adequate but not excessive fl oor depth, Michael Kwok is a Director with Arup in China and Hong Kong. He is also a member of Arup Group Board plenty of external frontages and a naturally lit Suzhou “Gate to the East” and East Asia Board. He is a member of the Institu- internal atrium. Twin towers linked at the top Ross Wimer, William Baker, world tion of Structural Engineer in the UK and Registered Structural Engineer (Class 1) in the People’s Republic Height: 280 m of China. He has been in-charge of a number of major In a similar manner to the Pazhou buildings, projects in China from inception to completion, Stories: 61 stories (Tower 1), 67 stories(Tower 20 including the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest), CCTV the Ningbo Gate tower form shows off the Confi gurations: 8 stories linkage structure at the top 40 m & 5 levels of New Headquarter Building, China World Trade Centre two slender wings of the building, with basement Phase 3 and Beijing Capital International Airport Primary Use: Offi ce & hotel (Tower 1), Residential (Tower 2) Terminal 3; Korean Pavilion and Danish Pavilion of minimal linkage. Like Pazhou, the linkage in Mark Nagis & Aaron Mazeika Architect: RMJM Shanghai World Expo; Shenzhen Stock Exchange Ningbo is driven by the architectural intention Square and Shenzhen Energy Building. Michael © RMJM graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineer- to arrange the two residential wings of the ing from Imperial College in the UK in 1984. He joined building between a “minimal” vertical China Central Television New Headquarters, Beijing Arup in 1986 and since then he has been involved in Sloping twin towers connected at the base, and the top by a 14-story many large scale building and infrastructure projects circulation core (see Figure 2). The building “cranked” cantilevering link structure to form a three-dimensional loop in Hong Kong and in China. His expertise covers a inhabitants step out of the lifts before heading 59 Diary wide range of projects including commercial, resi- dential, retail, hotel and leisure, transport terminal, to one of the building wings. The link serves Height: 234 m railway station and sports buildings. Michael has the function of both vertical and horizontal Total Area: 450,000 sq m been working on projects in China since 1992. He set up Arup offi ces in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan and circulation. Confi gurations: 9 story cranked podium links bottom of two towers & Chongqing, and he is responsible for developing 3 levels of basement Arup’s business and operation in Mainland China. Primary Use: Mixed use television production, broadcasting and Upcoming tall building Notably the Pazhou and Ningbo projects are offi ces not truly linked towers. However they are Client: China Central Television © OMA clearly a breakaway from the single building Design Architect: Offi ce for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) Figure 1. Pazhou 1401. © Aedas

events 26 | China’s Unique Linked Towers CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III China’s Unique Linked Towers | 27 Research 60 Reviews 20 The Emergence of Advanced Review of new books in the Façades in China CTBUH Library 40 Special Report: China 2012 Big Shifts Ahead as China Enters New Era With so many factors buff eting the economy, China’s economic growth slipped to 8.1% in Developers Eyeing New Marc Zobec, Massimiliano Report by Kevin Brass, CTBUH Public Aff airs Manager the fi rst quarter of 2012, the fi fth consecutive Markets, New Cities quarter of slowing expansion. The decreasing Reports out of China these days are a jumble rapidly forming middle class, a new has been wrestling with its own issues. “With rate of growth is expected to continue China’s slowing residential market is But developers are shifting their focus to of mixed messages and confl icting imagery. generation of well-educated Chinese with the European Union accounting for one-third through the rest of 2012, led by sliding prices attracting headlines, but other segments of Tier Two and Three cities, which are trying Fanzaga & Zhihong Liao One night network business news programs disposable income. of global import demand, a recession there and slower sales in residential housing. Some the property industry continue to surge. to woo regional operations away from the 61 Comments spotlight video of empty shopping malls and will inevitably take its toll on East Asia,” the analysts are even more pessimistic. Deutsche Demand for offi ce and retail space is still high prices of the big cities. “Many large deserted residential developments. The next “The demographic change going on is World Bank noted in a recent statement. Bank AG has reduced China’s growth estimate driving development, especially in inland domestic and international companies are night the screen fi lls with scenes of booming unmatched in human history,” said Michael for this year to 7.9%, while Credit Suisse Group cities eagerly creating new central business in the process of shifting their operations cities teeming with life and landscapes Klibaner, head of research in China for Jones The residential property market, one of the AG lowered its forecast to 7.7%. The predic- districts. from fi rst tier cities like Shanghai and covered with soaring new towers under Lang LaSalle. In Shanghai, for example, the key drivers of tall building construction, has tions compare with a 9.2% expansion in 2011. Beijing to these other cities as infrastructure Feedback on the past journal construction. number of residents earning US$5,000 or been one of the areas hardest hit by the Offi ce rents increased last year in all 15 improves and the operation costs… are more a year will rise from 15% in 2006 to 51% country’s economic twists. After a decade of “Clearly the economy is much, much weaker major cities tracked by the property fi rm CB signifi cantly more favorable,” said Ben One thing is clear: for more than a decade in 2045, according to JLL data. “The same record price escalations, sales have slowed in than most people thought until recently,” Richard Ellis. Offi ce rates in Beijing jumped Cavender of CMR China’s economy produced historic, trend is happening all over the country,” Mr. the wake of government measures designed Diana Choyleva, a China economist in the 80% from 2010 to 2011, while the price of 26 Finding Structural Solutions unprecedented double digit annual growth, Klibaner said. “That is a massive opportunity.” to dampen an overheating market. With new Hong Kong offi ce of Lombard Street Research, Shanghai space jumped 25%, according to Retail development is also attracting issue churning out the type of numbers that make homes far out of reach of the typical Chinese told the New York Times this spring. “They CBRE. renewed interest, despite the oft-reported economists swoon. The country turned from family’s income, the government enacted have a real mess on their hands.” glut of space. China’s continued move to a sleeping giant to economic power, sending Global Reality measures to limit the number of homes any The vacancy rate in Beijing was a skimpy consumer-driven economy as the retail by Connecting Towers out tsunami-like ripples through markets one person can purchase and increased the 3.5%, while only 6.7% of Shanghai space sector “poised for a major update… and we around the world. It was a wild, jaw-dropping A large portion of China’s current economic restrictions on fi nancing, hoping to deter State of Transition was available, Knight Frank reports. Outside expect its impact to be signifi cant,” Jones era – and, by most accounts, it is over. The woes are attributable to forces beyond the speculators. a few high profi le projects, the next wave of Lang LaSalle reports economy is slowing to rates not seen in a country’s control. Once isolated, China is now But even the most pessimistic analysts offi ce towers is not expected to hit Beijing decade, government data shows. directly linked to the global economy. In the On one level, the measures have had the recognize that China’s leaders hold an and Shanghai until 2015 and 2016 Major international retailers such as Tiff any Andrew Luong & Michael last year slowdowns in Europe and North desired eff ect. Prices for new build homes in extraordinary ability to manipulate the and Marks & Spencer continue to make Meet the CTBUH But China’s slowdown is another country’s America undercut China’s best customers. 20 major cities dropped 6% from the peak in economy. In the fi rst half of 2012 the “Occupier demand remains strong in Tier their fi rst foray into such cities as Nanjing, 62 halcyon days. While the United States and EEU “The reality is that we are seeing a slowdown the third quarter of 2011 to the end of June, government enacted a series of stimulus One cities but it is rising rapidly in emerging Chongqing and Wuhan. For investors, it is zones stutter, China’s GDP is expected to grow in China’s economy through 2012 due to a 2012, according to Knight Frank data. Prices measures to help stabilize the economy, markets, particularly in gateway cities such “hard to fi nd retail assets in China by 8% this year. Even within the slowdown, lagging economic recovery in Europe and the are expected to fall further in the next six including an estimated 1 trillion Yuan (US$157 as Chengdu,” said Andrew Slevin of CBRE. anywhere,” said Michael Klibaner of Jones Kwok the country’s business and industry is forecast United States impacting China’s months. billion) of spending on everything from road Lang LaSalle. Jianping Gu to expand to record levels, as the government manufacturing and export sectors,” said Ben and bridge projects to subsidies for home pushes to meet the needs of its dramatically Cavender, Associate Principal of China Market Real estate accounted for 10% of the country’s appliance purchases. Interest rates were cut China 2011: $11 trillion (GDP PPP*) Tier 1 Cities vs China50 in 2011 changing country. Research Group (CMR). GDP in the boom years, with residential the for the fi rst time in three years. square meters China50 biggest contributor. “There was a huge $2.9 trillion China50 26% 5 million Tier 1 China is in the midst of a historic transition, a Foreign direct investment in 2011 was down dependence on the [real estate] sector, even While nowhere close to the size of the 22% China50 16 million shift that will profoundly change the global 2.8% in the fi rst quarter from a year earlier, in after the peak of the market in the United stimulus package put together in 2008 Rest of China 39% Tier 1 25 million $7.4 trillion Tier 1 cities 17.5 million 16% economy, analysts agree. At its heart is a part due to a 30% drop from Europe, which States in 2007,” Mr. Klibaner said. Uncertainty – which sparked three years of growth, 66% $0.8 trillion has stalled many projects, particularly despite the global slowdown – the measures 7% 78% developments targeting the luxury markets in were a clear signal the government was 34 Context to China’s Legacy of Tier 1 cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. “The responding to the realities of the market. China 2020: $21 trillion (GDP PPP*) Tier 1 Cities vs China50 in 2020 63 CTBUH Organizational high end of the market, where foreign Premier Wen Jiabao announced China will square meters investors typically played, was impacted more continue to focus on the continued growth of China50 Tier 1 $6.7 trillion 28 million Tier 1 signifi cantly by policies,” Mr. Klibaner said. the economy, rather than concerns about 32% China50 21% 32 million Rest of China 34 million th 49% infl ation, in line with the China’s 12 Five Year $12.3 trillion 51% China50 Tall Building Development 59% 109 million Chinese developers were particularly hard hit Plan, released in 2011. The plan calls for a Tier 1 cities 79% Structure & Member Listings by the recent economic shifts. Many were focus on scientifi c development and $1.7 trillion 8% heavily leveraged to banks – a scenario emerging industries, as well as transportation Grade “A” Office *PPP is Purchasing Power Parity Retail familiar in Western markets. “Weak property and energy infrastructure. Source: EIU, IMF, IHS Global Insight, and Source: Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Intelligence Service, 2012 Zhang Junjie developers in China are likely to face a test of Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Intelligence Service, 2012 their survival this year,” Standards & Poor In the wake of the economic slowdown, from Note: China50 refers to the next top 50 non-Tier One Cities concluded in a report issued this spring. January to April of this year the National Pudong Skyline, Shanghai. © MORI Development and Reform Commission Comparison of China’s Tier 1 cities vs China50 economic growth in 2011 and 2020.

40 | China 2012 CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III China 2012 | 41 40 Big Shifts Ahead as China Enters New Era Kevin Brass

The rise of supertall buildings in modern has a “social context… Chinese ancestors relentlessly tried to conquer the highest mountains and the biggest rivers in order to challenge the order of nature. ” Zhang Junjie, Chairman of the Board, East China Architectural Design & Research Institute, Page 34

CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III Inside | 3 Debating Tall Is China’s Property Bubble Ready to Burst? Soaring prices led many analysts to predict that a bubble was forming in China’s housing industry and prompted government measures to dampen the market. This month’s debate looks at the future of China’s property market.

NO Equally important have been the slew of policies First, even though the decelerating economic KK Fung designed to de-incentivize land-banking, so that growth forced the People’s Bank of China to Managing Director, Jones Lang LaSalle , China developers are building apartments rather than cut interest rates twice within a month, the hording land. By suppressing demand and Chinese state seems to be firm about its There are few topics on which reasonably well boosting supply, we have seen rapid price housing control strategy. Within ten days, four informed people disagree as passionately as appreciations completely arrested. ministries independently made this one. So that there is no mistaking our announcements to stop the rumors about view on the subject, I will say it right up front The government has been steadily taking its foot easing the controls on the housing market. – it’s not a bubble. This is not to say that a off the brake since the beginning of 2012 and Second, for the country as a whole, the bubble could have formed if the government transaction volumes are rising. With so much downward trend has been continuing since had not intervened as actively as it has over supply, developers are unlikely to gain pricing October 2011. Among the 70 cities that the the last two and a half years. But it is our view power anytime soon, so the risks of rapid price National Bureau of Statistics follows, housing that, thus far, these interventions have increases are very low. And the industry as a prices declined in 55 in May compared to a effectively mitigated those risks and the whole is moving away from building upper year earlier. fundamentals of the market make the middle class housing and toward apartments for likelihood of a policy mistake by the people who make average incomes. Third, housing prices in large cities are too government relatively low over the short and high by any measure. In many cities, including medium term. Rather than a bursting bubble, we see China’s Beijing and Shanghai, price-to-income ratios housing market as healthier than it has been in are around 30 to 1, almost twice as much as Why does the government manipulate the several years, though conditions for developers Japan’s 16 to 1 when its housing bubble burst housing market in China? The first reason is remain challenging on the ground. in 1990. In the United States, the housing that it accounts for nearly 10% of GDP on a price-income ratio was only 3.3 to 1 in 2011, direct basis. So in order to effectively manage and even in Q4 2005, at the peak of the the macro economy the housing market must housing bubble, it was just 5.1 to 1. Fourth, play a central role. The second reason is to YES vacancy rates in China have been well above achieve a number of socially desirable Dr. Tianlun Jian the normal range of 5 to 10% in advanced outcomes, such as encouraging the Economist who has worked for China’s Central countries. Several studies in Beijing, development of more affordable housing. Bank and several investments corporations Zhengzhou, and Hangzhou show that vacancy rates are around 30%. We see both goals at work under the current Is the ice thawing and spring returning to China’s iteration of the housing policy regime. Market housing market? The recent interest rate cuts On March 31, 2012, the Beijing Public Security conditions have been suppressed to an and Premier Wen Jiabao’s words reemphasizing Bureau published a report of a 100-day ever-increasing extent since late 2009 to cool “stable growth” have led the market to wonder if population investigation project. It says that in off an overheating economy and are now the Chinese state has changed its policies for Beijing, 3.8 million housing units, out of the being eased to support the economy in its controlling the housing bubble. existing 13.2 million housing stock, are vacant. soft-landing trajectory. At the same time, policy has had a much greater dampening Moreover, in a few cities, housing prices and In sum, the correction in China’s housing effect at the high end of the market, where sales volumes either stopped declining or picked market will continue. The soaring prices in investor demand has effectively been up in the last couple of months. Nonetheless, Beijing, Shanghai, and other largest cities will marginalized, thereby making more affordable the facts don’t support optimism about the drop significantly. It is only a matter of time. A housing aimed at first time home buyers the housing market at this time. hard landing will speed up this process. path of least resistance for developers.

Shanghai Skyline © CTBUH

CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III Debating Tall: China’s Property Bubble Ready to Burst? | 5 Visit the daily-updated online resource for all the latest news on tall buildings, urban development Global News and sustainable construction from around the world at: http://news.ctbuh.org

Asia Several high-profile projects under construc- tion hit newsworthy milestones in recent months, including Shanghai Tower, which sailed passed the 300-meter mark. The Gensler-designed tower in Pudong will eventually hit 632 meters, making it the tallest building in China and the second tallest in the supertall world. The Tower will join the 420-meter Jin Mao building and 492-meter Shanghai World Financial Center to anchor the Lujiazui business district.

Meanwhile, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) started work on landmark towers in Beijing and Tianjin. The China World Trade Center Phase 3B project, part of the China World Trade Center, will reach 280 meters, while the CTF Tianjin Tower will hit 530 meters, making it the second tallest tower in the city. Shanghai Tower, Pudong. © Gensler China World Trade Centre Phase 3B, Beijing. © SOM

The Tianjin Tower will incorporate several new designed CCTV Headquarters in Beijing, Ole Scheeren told the Associated Press when technologies to make it “significantly quieter, which is already a landmark of the Chinese the project opened. “From here on, the with less movement than other tall buildings,” capital. The 234-meter tall complex with its building finally will be what it’s made for.” said William Baker, SOM Structural and Civil jarring, complex angles was under construc- Engineering Partner and a member of the tion for eight years. Although the façade was In Japan, another long-awaited tower opened CTBUH Board of Trustees. The curving glass completed for the 2008 Olympic Games, a to the public, the Tokyo Sky Tree, which has façade conceals eight sloping columns that deadly fire in an adjacent building in 2009 officially debuted as the world’s tallest will help the structure handle gravity and stalled construction. telecom tower. The Sky Tree, which is twice as lateral loads, as well as seismic conditions. In tall as the Eiffel Tower, is already a city addition, multi-story vents combined with the “It’s mainly the end of our work, but it’s landmark and popular tourist destination, aerodynamic shape of the building “dramati- actually the beginning of its life,” co-designer with observation decks at 350 meters and 450 cally reduce wind forces by reducing vortex shedding,” the firm says.

But perhaps the biggest news in China was the long-delayed completion of the OMA-

THEY SAID

In fact, the serial arrangement of air conditioning“ units turns them into an architectural absurdity. ” Ferdinand Oswald, in his paper “Natural Ventilation of Residential High-Rrses in Subtropical Regions,” presented at the CTBUH 9th World Congress Shanghai.

CTF Tianjin Tower. © SOM Tokyo Sky Tree. © Orghi Dean

6 | Global News CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III Case Study: Greenland’s Suzhou Center, Wujiang A Unique Collaboration Results in “Breathing” Tower The latest project in the long partnership between Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and the Greenland Group, a 358-meter tower in Wujiang, incorporates passive ventilation techniques into the design to create a unique interior “lung.”

In today’s world of increasingly sophisticated setting precedents for the design of tall design technology, it is rare to find an buildings in China and throughout the world. established architect/client partnership that Ross Wimer William Baker has consistently advanced the innovation of This paper focuses on the most recent tall building design. Capitalizing on their addition to the team’s collaborative portfolio. successful collaboration on Zifeng Tower At 358 meters, Greenland Group Suzhou (formerly Nanjing Greenland Financial Center), Center marks the Wujiang waterfront with an the architecture, engineering, interior design aerodynamic form that has a unique and urban planning firm of Skidmore, Owings presence, while accommodating its program & Merrill (SOM) has since partnered with with economy and efficiency. The design Shanghai’s Greenland Group on several incorporates passive ventilation techniques Mark Nagis Aaron Mazeika important, high-profile additions to the through a unique interior “lung,” creating an Greenland portfolio: Zhengzhou Greenland efficient “breathing” tower. Authors Plaza, Jiangxi Nanchang Greenland Central Ross Wimer, Director Plaza Parcel A, Jiangxi Nanchang Greenland William Baker, Partner Mark Nagis, Associate Zifeng, Greenland Center Dawangjing and Site and Context Aaron Mazeika, Associate Director Greenland Group Suzhou Center, as well as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) several design competitions (see an overview With a total building area of more than 224 S. Michigan Ave., #1000 Chicago, IL 60604, United States of these projects at the end of this article). 284,000 square meters, Greenland Group t: +1 312 554 9090 These towers are designed to anchor large Suzhou Center will become the defining e: [email protected]; [email protected]; developments and act as world-class visual landmark for the new Wujiang lakefront [email protected]; [email protected] www.som.com monuments within these new districts, while development and, by extension, for the city as also introducing new technologies that are a whole. Sited prominently along Lake Taihu Ross Wimer has created innovative architectural projects in over 20 cities on five continents. Although the majority of these designs are for large scale mixed-use programs such as Leamouth Peninsula in London, Infinity Tower in Dubai, and in China, his projects are dramatically diverse. Since joining SOM in 1995, he has worked to integrate the rigor and logic of engineering into his designs. Environmental sustainability and expressive structure typically help define the aesthetic of his architecture, which can be seen in projects such as Zhengzhou Greenland Plaza.

William Baker is a Structural Engineering Partner at SOM and a member of the CTBUH Board of Trustees. Throughout his career, Bill has dedicated himself to structural innovation. His best known contribution has been to develop the “buttressed core” structural system for the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest manmade structure. While widely regarded for his work on supertall buildings, his expertise also extends to long-span roof structures, such as the Virginia Beach Convention Center, as well as specialty structures like Broadgate-Exchange House.

Mark Nagis has had the opportunity to work on diverse and innovative architectural projects throughout the Middle East and Asia. Notable projects include the Greenland Central Plaza, a pair of 289 meter tall towers in Nanchang, China, as well as the Greenland Group Suzhou Center.

Aaron Mazeika has led the structural engineering team in the design of over 30 high-rise towers in China. Notable projects include the New Poly Plaza in Beijing, China, which features the world’s largest cable-net supported glass façade, and the in Kuwait City, Kuwait.

12 || Greenland's Greenland's Suzhou Suzhou Center, Center, Wujiang Wujiang CTBUHCTBUH Journal Journal | | 2012 Issue III in the Jiangsu province of China (see Figure 2), level, separate lobbies ensure that each use the building’s dynamic tapering form can operate independently. effectively unifies its office and residential uses within a gently curved volume that Shaped by the prevailing views, prominent culminates in a 30-story tall opening which wind direction and environmental marks the tower’s presence on the city skyline. performance factors, the design and positioning of the tower contribute to Like many of the SOM towers now being defining a place of memorable and lasting designed for Greenland, this building is in the value. The design takes full advantage of its first phase of a new development that unique and dramatic location immediately encompasses many city blocks. It needs to be adjacent to the lake as well as the pedestrian the catalyst that encourages other developers promenade which defines the heart of the to follow. Since the adjacent blocks have yet Wujiang central business district. The to be developed, the Suzhou Center will designers’ decision to orient the tower in the function as a “city within the city.” With office, east-west direction is in direct response to retail, residential and hotel uses, the complex two environmental factors–the wind and sun. is active throughout the day. Although Elongating the tower in the east-west housing a mix of uses within a tower is a direction takes advantage of solar radiation at complex task to design and construct, by the times of the day when it is most beneficial, stacking the uses and providing shuttle while minimizing the impact when it is least elevators to access sky lobbies for each advantageous. program, the core works efficiently. At ground Figure 1. Greenland Group Suzhou Center, Wujiang. © SOM

Site and Context

1 Lake Taihu 2 Regional Bus Depot 3 Primary Pedestrian Paths 4 Panoramic View to the South 5 Retail Podium 6 Local Elevated Train Stop 7 Central Retail Plaza & Media Wall 8 Ballroom Drop-o 9 Hotel Drop-o 10 Oce Drop-o 12 11 Retail Drop-o 12 Panoramic View to the North 13 Local Bus Stop 14 Prevailing Summer Wind 15 Primary Development Axis 4

1

8 3 5 7 9 15 2 10

11 13

6 14

Figure 2. Suzhou Center contextual plan. © SOM

CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III Greenland's Suzhou Center, Wujiang | 13 Special Report: China 2012 Big Shifts Ahead as China Enters New Era Report by Kevin Brass, CTBUH Public Affairs Manager

Reports out of China these days are a jumble rapidly forming middle class, a new has been wrestling with its own issues. “With of mixed messages and conflicting imagery. generation of well-educated Chinese with the European Union accounting for one-third One night network business news programs disposable income. of global import demand, a recession there spotlight video of empty shopping malls and will inevitably take its toll on East Asia,” the deserted residential developments. The next “The demographic change going on is World Bank noted in a recent statement. night the screen fills with scenes of booming unmatched in human history,” said Michael cities teeming with life and landscapes Klibaner, head of research in China for Jones The residential property market, one of the covered with soaring new towers under Lang LaSalle. In Shanghai, for example, the key drivers of tall building construction, has construction. number of residents earning US$5,000 or been one of the areas hardest hit by the more a year will rise from 15% in 2006 to 51% country’s economic twists. After a decade of One thing is clear: for more than a decade in 2045, according to JLL data. “The same record price escalations, sales have slowed in China’s economy produced historic, trend is happening all over the country,” Mr. the wake of government measures designed unprecedented double digit annual growth, Klibaner said. “That is a massive opportunity.” to dampen an overheating market. With new churning out the type of numbers that make homes far out of reach of the typical Chinese economists swoon. The country turned from family’s income, the government enacted sleeping giant to economic power, sending Global Reality measures to limit the number of homes any out tsunami-like ripples through markets one person can purchase and increased the around the world. It was a wild, jaw-dropping A large portion of China’s current economic restrictions on financing, hoping to deter era – and, by most accounts, it is over. The woes are attributable to forces beyond the speculators. economy is slowing to rates not seen in a country’s control. Once isolated, China is now decade, government data shows. directly linked to the global economy. In the On one level, the measures have had the last year slowdowns in Europe and North desired effect. Prices for new build homes in But China’s slowdown is another country’s America undercut China’s best customers. 20 major cities dropped 6% from the peak in halcyon days. While the United States and EEU “The reality is that we are seeing a slowdown the third quarter of 2011 to the end of June, zones stutter, China’s GDP is expected to grow in China’s economy through 2012 due to a 2012, according to Knight Frank data. Prices by 8% this year. Even within the slowdown, lagging economic recovery in Europe and the are expected to fall further in the next six the country’s business and industry is forecast United States impacting China’s months. to expand to record levels, as the government manufacturing and export sectors,” said Ben pushes to meet the needs of its dramatically Cavender, Associate Principal of China Market Real estate accounted for 10% of the country’s changing country. Research Group (CMR). GDP in the boom years, with residential the biggest contributor. “There was a huge China is in the midst of a historic transition, a Foreign direct investment in 2011 was down dependence on the [real estate] sector, even shift that will profoundly change the global 2.8% in the first quarter from a year earlier, in after the peak of the market in the United economy, analysts agree. At its heart is a part due to a 30% drop from Europe, which States in 2007,” Mr. Klibaner said. Uncertainty has stalled many projects, particularly developments targeting the luxury markets in Tier 1 cities such as Shanghai and Beijing. “The high end of the market, where foreign investors typically played, was impacted more significantly by policies,” Mr. Klibaner said.

Chinese developers were particularly hard hit by the recent economic shifts. Many were heavily leveraged to banks – a scenario familiar in Western markets. “Weak property developers in China are likely to face a test of their survival this year,” Standards & Poor concluded in a report issued this spring. Pudong Skyline, Shanghai. © MORI

40 | China 2012 CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III With so many factors buffeting the economy, China’s economic growth slipped to 8.1% in Developers Eyeing New the first quarter of 2012, the fifth consecutive Markets, New Cities quarter of slowing expansion. The decreasing rate of growth is expected to continue China’s slowing residential market is But developers are shifting their focus to through the rest of 2012, led by sliding prices attracting headlines, but other segments of Tier Two and Three cities, which are trying and slower sales in residential housing. Some the property industry continue to surge. to woo regional operations away from the analysts are even more pessimistic. Deutsche Demand for office and retail space is still high prices of the big cities. “Many large Bank AG has reduced China’s growth estimate driving development, especially in inland domestic and international companies are for this year to 7.9%, while Credit Suisse Group cities eagerly creating new central business in the process of shifting their operations AG lowered its forecast to 7.7%. The predic- districts. from first tier cities like Shanghai and tions compare with a 9.2% expansion in 2011. Beijing to these other cities as infrastructure Office rents increased last year in all 15 improves and the operation costs… are “Clearly the economy is much, much weaker major cities tracked by the property firm CB significantly more favorable,” said Ben than most people thought until recently,” Richard Ellis. Office rates in Beijing jumped Cavender of CMR Diana Choyleva, a China economist in the 80% from 2010 to 2011, while the price of Hong Kong office of Lombard Street Research, Shanghai space jumped 25%, according to Retail development is also attracting told the New York Times this spring. “They CBRE. renewed interest, despite the oft-reported have a real mess on their hands.” glut of space. China’s continued move to a The vacancy rate in Beijing was a skimpy consumer-driven economy as the retail 3.5%, while only 6.7% of Shanghai space sector “poised for a major update… and we State of Transition was available, Knight Frank reports. Outside expect its impact to be significant,” Jones a few high profile projects, the next wave of Lang LaSalle reports But even the most pessimistic analysts office towers is not expected to hit Beijing recognize that China’s leaders hold an and Shanghai until 2015 and 2016 Major international retailers such as Tiffany extraordinary ability to manipulate the and Marks & Spencer continue to make economy. In the first half of 2012 the “Occupier demand remains strong in Tier their first foray into such cities as Nanjing, government enacted a series of stimulus One cities but it is rising rapidly in emerging Chongqing and Wuhan. For investors, it is measures to help stabilize the economy, markets, particularly in gateway cities such “hard to find retail assets in China including an estimated 1 trillion Yuan (US$157 as Chengdu,” said Andrew Slevin of CBRE. anywhere,” said Michael Klibaner of Jones billion) of spending on everything from road Lang LaSalle. and bridge projects to subsidies for home appliance purchases. Interest rates were cut China 2011: $11 trillion (GDP PPP*) Tier 1 Cities vs China50 in 2011 for the first time in three years. square meters China50 1995 2012 2025 Change Percent China50 $2.9 trillion Shanghai 10.45 19.55 28.40 9.10 87% 5 million While nowhere close to the size of the 26% Tier 1 Beijing 8.31 15.00 22.63 6.69 81% 22% 16 million China50 Guangzhou 4.74 10.49 15.47 5.74 121% stimulus package put together in 2008 Rest of China 39% Tier 1 25 million $7.4 trillion Tier 1 cities Shenzhen 2.39 10.22 15.54 7.83 327% 17.5 million 16% – which sparked three years of growth, 66% $0.8 trillion Chongqing 4.82 9.73 13.63 4.91 102% despite the global slowdown – the measures 7% 78% Wuhan 4.76 8.90 12.73 4.14 87% Tianjin 5.51 8.54 11.93 3.02 55% were a clear signal the government was Chengdu 3.53 6.40 9.97 2.87 81% responding to the realities of the market. China 2020: $21 trillion (GDP PPP*) Tier 1 Cities vs China50 in 2020 Nanjing 3.15 5.66 8.50 2.51 80% square meters Harbin 3.05 5.50 8.21 2.45 80% Premier Wen Jiabao announced China will Shenyang 4.08 5.47 7.43 1.39 34% continue to focus on the continued growth of China50 Tier 1 Hangzhou 2.16 5.19 8.45 3.03 140% $6.7 trillion 28 million Tier 1 Xi’an 2.82 4.85 6.93 2.02 72% the economy, rather than concerns about 32% China50 21% 32 million Qingdao 1.88 3.68 5.44 1.80 96% Rest of China 34 million th 49% Dalian 2.31 3.31 4.48 0.99 43% inflation, in line with the China’s 12 Five Year $12.3 trillion 51% China50 Plan, released in 2011. The plan calls for a 59% 109 million Suzhou 1.08 3.25 5.83 2.17 200% Tier 1 cities 79% Wuxi 1.35 3.22 5.14 1.87 139% focus on scientific development and $1.7 trillion Changsha 1.54 3.21 4.94 1.67 108% 8% emerging industries, as well as transportation Grade “A” O ce Urmqi 1.40 2.95 5.06 1.55 111% *PPP is Purchasing Power Parity Retail Fuzhou 1.32 2.80 4.24 1.48 113% and energy infrastructure. Shijiazhuang 1.62 2.74 4.19 1.12 69% Source: EIU, IMF, IHS Global Insight, and Source: Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Intelligence Service, 2012 Xiamen 0.95 2.70 4.87 1.75 184% Jones Lang LaSalle Real Estate Intelligence Service, 2012 Wenzhou 1.32 2.64 4.04 1.32 100% In the wake of the economic slowdown, from Note: China50 refers to the next top 50 non-Tier One Cities Nigbo 1.02 2.63 4.26 1.61 185% January to April of this year the National Lanzhou 1.56 2.49 3.61 0.93 59% 20 Nanning 1.12 2.10 2.91 0.98 87% Development and Reform Commission Comparison of China’s Tier 1 cities vs China50 economic growth in 2011 and 2020. Haikou 0.49 1.59 2.28 1.09 221% 15 Sanya <0.75 10 GDP Source: Urban Land Institute CTBUH Journal | 2012 Issue III Wages China 2012 | 41 Note: list organized by population size in 2012 5 Demography in China and America 1800 2009 2010 2011 China USA

1731China 1700 Increases in Wages v. GDP Total Fertility Rate 1.56 2.08 Source: National Bureau of Statistics Population Growth, 2010-50,% -3.4 +30.0

1631Finland 1630Singapore Peak Population Year 2026 still rising 1600 1588Japan

1580Canada

1556Australia Median Age 2010 34.5 36.9

1530Germany 1500 UK 1500 1489USA Median Age 2050 48.7 40.0 Population Aged 20-24, 2010 120m 22m 1400 1458Italy Population Aged 20-24, 2050 1376Israel 63m 25m

Change in Share of Population, % points, 2010-2050 Under 15 -5.5 -1.3 15-64 -11.4 -6.9 Average Score on OECD Literacy Test Over 65 +17.4 +8.1 Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2009 Source: United Nations About the Council

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, based at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, is an international not-for-profit organization supported by architecture, engineering, planning, development and construction professionals. Founded in 1969, the Council’s mission is to disseminate multi-disciplinary information on tall buildings and sustainable urban environments, to maximize the international interaction of professionals involved in creating the built environment, and to make the latest knowledge available to professionals in a useful form.

The CTBUH disseminates its findings, and facilitates business exchange, through: the publication of books, monographs, proceedings and reports; the organization of world congresses, international, regional and specialty conferences and workshops; the maintaining of an extensive website and tall building databases of built, under construction and proposed buildings; the distribution of a monthly international tall building e-newsletter; the maintaining of an international resource center; the bestowing of annual awards for design and construction excellence and individual lifetime achievement; the management of special task forces/ working groups; the hosting of technical forums; and the publication of the CTBUH Journal, a professional journal containing refereed papers written by researchers, scholars and practicing professionals.

The Council is the arbiter of the criteria upon which tall building height is measured, and thus the title of "The World’s Tallest Building" determined. CTBUH is the world’s leading body dedicated to the field of tall buildings and urban habitat and the recognized international source for information in these fields.

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