CTBUH recently announced the finalist projects from around the world for the inaugural Tall + Urban Innovation Conference, which will take place in Chicago from May 30–31. The two-day event will see owner/developers and design teams for 45 finalist projects compete in front of an international audience and live juries for winning distinctions across eight categories. In addition, the winners in each regional category will be judged for the single title of “2018 Best Tall Building Worldwide.”
Incorporating what was previously known as the CTBUH Annual Awards Event, the CTBUH 2018 Tall + Urban Innovation Conference will explore and celebrate the very best in innovative tall buildings, urban spaces, building technologies, and construction practices from around the world. Following the finalist project presentations, distinguished juries will deliberate and select winners in each category, which will be announced at a ceremony on the second day of the conference.
“The Finalists for the 2018 Tall + Urban Innovation Conference truly represent the pinnacle of excellence in the field of tall buildings,” said Awards Jury Chair Karl Fender, Director at Fender Katsalidis Architects. “Being recognized by the world’s premier authority on tall buildings is a great honor, and the opportunity to showcase these quality projects to a global audience helps drive innovation across all disciplines in our industry.”
The Main Jury is responsible for selecting the Best Tall Building Regional Finalists and Winners, as well as the overall worldwide Winner. The jury is comprised of Awards Jury Chair Karl Fender, Director, Fender Katsalidis; H.E. Mohamed Ali Allabar, Chairman, Emaar Properties; Kamil Merican, Chief Executive Officer, GDP Architects; CTBUH Chairman Steve Watts, Partner, alinea consulting; and CTBUH Executive Director Antony Wood.
“Part of our mission at CTBUH is to investigate and highlight the cutting-edge in sustainable urbanism in order to promote a better urban future, and this year’s finalists exemplify the world’s foremost examples in this regard,” Wood said.
Hosted at the Radisson Blu Aqua, located in the base of the famous Aqua Tower in Chicago – itself a finalist for the Best Tall Building Americas award in 2010 – the conference will include not only an awards ceremony, but also a dinner, a VIP networking reception, and presentations from some of the most distinguished names in the tall building industry.
Registration for the 2018 Tall + Urban Innovation Conference is now open at tallinnovation2018.com, where additional details can be found. See the finalist projects in each awards category below.
Finalists for the Tall + Urban Innovation Conference Awards
Best Tall Building: Americas
- 150 N. Riverside, Chicago
- 35xv, New York City
- American Copper Building, New York City
- Gaia Building, Quito
Best Tall Building: Asia & Australasia
- Chaoyang Park Plaza, Beijing
- Huangshan Mountain Village, Huangshan
- International Towers Sydney, Sydney
- Lotte World Tower, Seoul
- Marina One, Singapore
- Oasia Hotel Downtown, Singapore
- Poly International Plaza, Singapore
- Tencent Seafront Towers, Shenzhen
- Ping An Finance Center, Shenzhen
Best Tall Building: Europe
- Angel Court, London
- Canaletto, London
- The Silo, Copenhagen
- Tribunal de Paris, Paris
- Upper West, Berlin
Best Tall Building: Middle East & Africa
- Azrieli Sarona, Tel Aviv
- Beirut Terraces, Beirut
- Rothschild Tower, Tel Aviv
- Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town
Urban Habitat Award
- Greatwall Complex, Wuhan
- International Towers Sydney, Sydney
- National September 11 Memorial, New York City
- Oasia Hotel Downtown, Singapore
- SOHO Fuxing Plaza, Shanghai
- SkyPark, Hong Kong
Construction Award
- 461 Dean Street, New York City
- Ping An Finance Center, Shenzhen
- 56 Leonard Street, Shenzhen
- The EY Centre, Sydney
- 111 Main, Salt Lake City
Innovation Award
- Hickory Building Systems
- 3D Printed Building
- Tallwood House Timber Construction
- MULTI
- CAST CONNEX High Integrity Blocks
- Hi-Res CFD for Wind Loading Tall Buildings
- Hummingbird – Tuned Damper
- A New Research-based Tower Typology
10 Year Award
- Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai
- Bahrain World Trade Center 1, Bahrain
- Manitoba Hydro Place, Winnipeg
- Hegau Tower, Singen
- San Francisco Federal Building, San Francisco
- Manchester Civil Justice Center, Manchester
- Lumiere, Sydney
- Rose Rayhaan by Rotana, Dubai
Related Stories
Mass Timber | Jun 13, 2023
Mass timber construction featured in two-story mixed-use art gallery and wine bar in Silicon Valley
The Edes Building, a two-story art gallery and wine bar in the Silicon Valley community of Morgan Hill, will prominently feature mass timber. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam posts and beams were specified for aesthetics, biophilic properties, and a reduced carbon footprint compared to concrete and steel alternatives.
Mixed-Use | Jun 12, 2023
Goettsch Partners completes its largest China project to date: a mixed-used, five-tower complex
Chicago-based global architecture firm Goettsch Partners (GP) recently announced the completion of its largest project in China to date: the China Resources Qianhai Center, a mixed-use complex in the Qianhai district of Shenzhen. Developed by CR Land, the project includes five towers totaling almost 472,000 square meters (4.6 million sf).
Engineers | Jun 12, 2023
Stantec to acquire Environmental Systems Design
Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, has signed an agreement to acquire Environmental Systems Design, Inc. (ESD), a 270-person engineering firm headquartered in Chicago. Founded in 1967, ESD has built a reputation for excellence and innovation in high-performance design with a roster of industry-leading clients. The terms of the transaction are not disclosed.
University Buildings | Jun 9, 2023
Cornell’s new information science building will foster dynamic exchange of ideas and quiet, focused research
Construction recently began on Cornell University’s new 135,000-sf building for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science (Cornell Bowers CIS). The structure will bring together the departments of Computer Science, Information Science, and Statistics and Data Science for the first time in one complex.
Museums | Jun 6, 2023
New wing of Natural History Museums of Los Angeles to be a destination and portal
NHM Commons, a new wing and community hub under construction at The Natural History Museums (NHM) of Los Angeles County, was designed to be both a destination and a portal into the building and to the surrounding grounds.
Performing Arts Centers | Jun 6, 2023
Mumbai, India’s new Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre has three performing arts venues
In Mumbai, India, the recently completed Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) will showcase music, theater, and fine arts from India and from across the globe. Atlanta’s TVS Design served as the principal architect and interior designer of both the cultural center and the larger, adjacent Jio World Centre.
Architects | Jun 6, 2023
Taking storytelling to a new level in building design, with Gensler's Bob Weis and Andy Cohen
Bob Weis, formerly the head of Disney Imagineering, was recently hired by Gensler as its Global Immersive Experience Design Leader. He joins the firm's co-CEO Andy Cohen to discuss how Gensler will focus on storytelling to connect people to its projects.
Codes and Standards | Jun 6, 2023
California’s new power grid modernization plan furthers ambitious climate goals
California’s new $7.3 billion grid modernization plan is a crucial step in furthering its ambitious climate goals. The board of governors for the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the state’s grid operator, recently approved a strategy to build thousands of miles of new high-voltage transmission lines.
Mixed-Use | Jun 6, 2023
Public-private partnerships crucial to central business district revitalization
Central Business Districts are under pressure to keep themselves relevant as they face competition from new, vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods emerging across the world’s largest cities.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 6, 2023
Minnesota expected to adopt building code that would cut energy use by 80%
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to soon sign a bill that would change the state’s commercial building code so that new structures would use 80% less energy when compared to a 2004 baseline standard. The legislation aims for full implementation of the new code by 2036.
