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| Abbreviation | CVU |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1969; 57 years ago (1969) |
| Founder | Lynn S. Beedle[1] |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Purpose | Studies and reports on all aspects of tall buildings and urban design[2] |
| Headquarters | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S. (1969–2003) Chicago,Illinois, U.S. (2003–present) |
Region served | International |
| Membership | Over 450,000 individuals[3] |
CTBUH Chair | Steve Watts[4] of alinea Consulting |
Chief Executive Officer | Javier Quintana de Uña |
| Website | verticalurbanism |
TheCouncil on Vertical Urbanism (CVU), formerly known as theCouncil on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), is an international body in the field of tall buildings, includingskyscrapers, andsustainableurban design. Anonprofit organization[5] based at the Monroe Building inChicago,Illinois, United States, the CTBUH announces the title of "The World's Tallest Building" and is widely considered to be an authority on the official height of tall buildings.[6][7][8][9][10] Its stated mission is to study and report "on all aspects of the planning, design, and construction of tall buildings."
The CTBUH was founded atLehigh University inBethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1969 byLynn S. Beedle, where its office remained until October 2003 when it relocated to theIllinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.[11] On October 6, 2025, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat was renamed and rebranded as the Council on Vertical Urbanism, as part of a broader mandate "to define and steward responsible density in cities worldwide."[12][13][14]
The CTBUH ranks theheight of buildings using three different methods:[15]
A category measuring to the top of the roof was removed from the ranking criteria in November 2009.[16] This is because flat-topped skyscrapers are not as common in the modern era, as skyscrapers with intricate spire designs and parapet features atop their roofs make it more difficult to define the roof of a building.
The CTBUH insist that a building should only be added to the official tallest list when it is (i) topped out structurally and architecturally, (ii) fully clad, and (iii) open for business, or at least partially open. This became the CTBUH official definition of a building's "completion".[17]
The CTBUH maintains an extensive database (named The Skyscraper Center) of the tallest buildings in the world, organized by various categories. Buildings under construction are also included, although not ranked until completion. The CTBUH also produces an annual list of the 10 tallest buildings completed in that particular year. Topping the 2008 list was the 492-metre (1,614 ft)Shanghai World Financial Center inShanghai, the then tallest building in the world according to the criteria of highest occupied floor, and home to the world's highest observation deck. Second on the 2008 list was the 363-metre (1,191 ft)Almas Tower inDubai, third was theMinsheng Bank Building inWuhan which stands at 331 metres (1,086 ft), whilst fourth wasThe Address Downtown Burj Dubai (306 metres (1,004 ft)). All in all, six of the 10 tallest buildings completed in 2008 are located in Asia, three in the Middle East and one in North America.
The CTBUH also hosts annual conferences and a World Congress every three to five years. The 2012 World Congress was held inShanghai from September 19 to 21.[18] The next World Congress was held inChicago between October 28 and November 2, 2019.[19] The CTBUH also bestows Tall Building Awards each year, with four regional awards to the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and Asia and Australasia. Among these four regional awards, one is given the "Best Tall Building Award Overall." There are also two lifetime achievement awards. Starting in 2010, these awards are presented at a symposium and dinner held on the Illinois Institute of Technology's campus.[20] In 2012, the CTBUH added two new awards for Innovation and Performance.[21]
In addition to the monthly newsletter and daily updated global news archive, the CTBUH publishes a quarterlyCTBUH Journal. The Journal includes peer-reviewed technical papers, in-depth project case studies,[22] book reviews,[23] interviews with prominent persons in the tall building industry,[24] and much more.
The CTBUH also publishes guidebooks, reference manuals, and monographs related to the tall building industry. In 2006 it published the book101 of the World's Tallest Buildings in conjunction with author and CTBUH member Georges Binder, a reference to 101 of the world's tallest skyscrapers. It includes photos, plans, details on architects, engineers and stakeholders, and comprehensive technical data on each building. Since 2008 it has published aBest Tall Buildings book to accompany that year's awards.[25]
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The CTBUH grants several awards every year.
Sourced from Skyscraper Centre.[34]
The CTBUH works with institutions of higher-education from around the world in researching projects related to tall building design.
Building as used on the CTBUH's www.skyscrapercenter.com
41°52′50.2″N87°37′29.9″W / 41.880611°N 87.624972°W /41.880611; -87.624972