2019 Chicago 10th World Congress Proceedings

On the 50th anniversary of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s founding, the CTBUH 10th World Congress occurred in Chicago, Toronto and New York City from 28 October to 2 November 2019. Focusing on the theme 50 Forward | 50 Back: The Recent History and Essential Future of Sustainable Cities, the Congress explored the most significant advancements in tall buildings and cities from the last 50 years, whilst inquiring into the future of our cities 50 years from now. This collection of papers, which were originally presented at the 2019 World Congress, represents a critical reflection on both the skyscraper typology and urban development as a whole, by marking their trajectory to date, and considering the evolutions that must take place to accommodate a dynamic and uncertain global future.

Whereas back in 1969, the tall building was predominantly a technical challenge, now it is, arguably, more of a social challenge—how does it fit in with, and enhance, society? With the technological barriers towards height now largely addressed, an emphasis is being placed on making more humane, smarter, greener, more efficient skyscrapers that are better integrated with their cities, and better stewards of the urban environment. We thus stand at a critical juncture in time, where, amidst rapid densification, cities and tall buildings must deliver a greater quality of life to the people that inhabit them.

Editors: Jason Gabel & Daniel Safarik
Editorial Support: Emily Torem & Maureen Colvin
Layout & Design: Tansri Muliani & Jenny Worrell
Publisher: Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Chicago, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-939493-70-8
Hard cover, 352 pages

Also available as a digital download.