What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 5pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Council on Vertical Urbanism

Home
United States
Chicago, IL
Council on Vertical Urbanism

The Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU), previously the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Shaping the vertical future of cities.

Sharing the knowledge to build it.

08/20/2026

The full program for the 2026 VU Summit in London is now online!

Showcasing an extraordinary array of ideas, projects, and perspectives shaping the future of tall buildings and vertical urbanism, this year’s program is curated into nine distinct "Journeys," each offering a focused lens through which to experience the event.

Explore the program and pick out your journey:
https://vusummit.com/full-schedule/

Don’t forget! Regular registration rates end September 3. Register now and join us 26-29 October:
https://vusummit.com/register/

Thank you to our confirmed 2026 VU Summit sponsors:

💎 Diamond - constructsteel, FG Empreendimentos, KPF, Multiplex, PNC Architects | Sobha Realty
⬜Platinum - JLL, KONE, Surbana Jurong, TK Elevator
🟨Gold - BG&E, Egis, GCL Builds, Nikken Sekkei Ltd, Otis, Schindler, Turner Construction Company, WSP
◻️ Silver - Killa Design I Architecture, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) , Thornton Tomasetti , Walter P Moore

08/19/2026

We have announced the recipient of the 2026 Fazlur R. Khan Lifetime Achievement Award as Dr. Hossein Rezai, Global Design Director at Ramboll and Professor of Practice at the National University of Singapore.

"Dr. Rezai has advanced structural engineering as a creative discipline, demonstrating how innovative thinking is key to facing the complex challenges confronting architecture today," states CVU CEO Javier Quintana de Uña.

A leading advocate for integrated design and innovative structural systems, Dr. Rezai has championed a holistic approach to the built environment, one that brings together architecture, structure, technology and environmental performance from the earliest stages of design. His work has advanced the role of engineering beyond technical problem-solving, positioning it as a creative discipline capable of enabling more sustainable, resilient and adaptable cities.

As the originator of the concept of fusion engineering, Dr. Rezai has pioneered an approach that unites multiple disciplines to create more responsive and regenerative design solutions.

He was also the first—and remains the only—engineer to receive the prestigious title of Designer of the Year from the President of Singapore. He has engineered a number of high-profile and tall buildings across Asia and beyond, including Troika in Kuala Lumpur, Lincoln Modern and Mediacorp headquarters in Singapore and BRAC University in Dhaka.

“As our cities confront increasingly complex environmental and social challenges, collaboration across disciplines is essential,” said Dr Rezai, “I am deeply honored to receive the Fazlur R. Khan Lifetime Achievement Award and to join the distinguished group of engineers and innovators who have advanced the design of tall buildings.”

His recently published book, "On Regenerative Design, on Systems, and on Complexity: The Polimi Lectures," explores new ideas and perspectives on key design considerations for the built environment, both today and into the future.

08/18/2026

We have announced the recipient of the 2026 Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award as the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).

"OMA has transformed architectural thinking through decades of research, experimentation and published and built work that has challenged conventional approaches to density and urban form," states CVU CEO Javier Quintana de Uña.

Founded in 1975 by Rem Koolhaas, Elia Zenghelis, Zoe Zenghelis and Madelon Vriesendorp, OMA has earned global recognition for inventive and provocative architecture, urban research and thought leadership, including iconic tall buildings, mixed-use developments and master plans that have challenged prevailing ideas about density, program and city-making. OMA is now led by 10 partners working across a global network of offices.

Throughout its history, OMA has explored the relationship between architecture, ideology and the city, investigating how buildings can change urban environments. Its work spans cultural institutions, civic projects, residential developments and large-scale urban interventions, including influential tall building projects such as CCTV Headquarters in China and De Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Beyond its built work, OMA’s research-driven approach has shaped global conversations around urban transformation, infrastructure, technology and the future of cities. Through AMO, its research and design platform, the practice has further expanded the role of architectural thinking in addressing broader social, economic and environmental questions.

Read more: https://verticalurbanism.org/news-article/cvu-announces-2026-lifetime-achievement-awards/

08/13/2026

As one of London's most recognizable symbols of innovation, sustainability, and urban transformation, we are pleased to announce that 22 Bishopsgate will host the opening networking reception for the 2026 VU Summit.

Held on the 58th story of this award-winning project (CVU 2022 Award of Excellence, Best Tall Building), attendees will take in sweeping views of architectural heritage intersecting with the next generation of high-density development.

Register now to connect with developers, owners, investors, architects, engineers, policymakers, and other industry experts from around the world as London's skyline comes alive after dark.

Register: https://vusummit.com/

Kindly hosted by 22 Bishopsgate

08/12/2026

The latest edition of Vertical Urbanism magazine is now available!

In this issue, we challenge assumptions shaping today’s cities—from Paris’ contested skyline and embodied carbon in New York City to Tokyo’s evolving Marunouchi district.

Get your copy now at the CVU shop! https://shop.cvu.org/collections/journal

💫 Members get free access to the digital publication in CVU's ENGAGE community.

Vertical Urbanism magazine showcases new perspectives on how cities are designed, experienced, and understood.

08/07/2026

Design for a changing climate: Save 25% on select CVU Technical Resources through 31 Aug!

The climate is changing. So, too, must the way we design, build, and adapt our cities.

Save on the following Council publications:

▪️Sustainable High-Rise Buildings: Design, Technology, and Innovation
▫️Natural Ventilation in High-Rise Office Buildings
▪️Green Walls in High-Rise Buildings
▫️Tall Timber: Mass Timber for High-Rise Buildings
▪️Cyclone-Resistant Façades
▫️Timber Rising: Global Perspectives on Mass Timber Advances for the Tall Building Industry
▪️Life Cycle Assessment of Tall Building Structural Systems
▫️Vertical Greenery
▪️Life Cycle Environmental & Cost Analysis

Better-informed decisions lead to better-performing buildings. Put CVU’s resources to work today and take the next step toward a more sustainable built environment for generations to come.

CVU Shop: https://shop.cvu.org/collections/technical-guides

08/06/2026

Calling all researchers exploring the future of tall buildings and urban habitats!

Take your ideas further through the CVU 2026 International Research Seed Funding initiative, with a $20,000 award generously sponsored by Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited.

The initiative is designed to help promising research move from an early idea toward a more developed project capable of attracting larger-scale funding.

Proposals can come from any topic or discipline, provided they relate to tall buildings, the urban habitat, or broader challenges and opportunities shaping vertical urbanism.

Know a researcher with an idea worth exploring? Tag them or share this opportunity.

Learn more: https://verticalurbanism.org/competition/international-research-seed-funding/

📅 Submission deadline: 7 September
💡 Researchers are encouraged to contact [email protected] before the deadline to express interest, discuss the suitability of a proposal, or ask questions.

We’re excited to see what new ideas this year’s submissions bring.

08/05/2026

The workshop themes for the 2026 VU Summit in London have been announced!

Occurring on Monday, 26 October, the first afternoon of the conference, these half-day sessions allow you to engage directly with leaders and specialists working across the full spectrum of tall buildings and the built environment.

Featured workshops include:

🔥Challenges of Fire Safety: A Global Roundtable
💸Controlling the Cost of Ever-Higher Construction
🪜Expanding the Dimensions of Urban Mobility, kindly sponsored by Otis
🏘️Housing Affordability: Vertical Solutions to the Crisis
🌐Identity and Intensification, kindly sponsored by KPF
📱Smart Tech, Strong Identity: Designing Digital Experiences that Elevate Culture, kindly sponsored by WSP
🏙️The Space Called Home: High-Rise Living Around the World
🌬️Wind Engineering for Design
👷‍♀️Women Breaking Barriers and Driving Excellence in Sustainable Vertical Urbanism, kindly sponsored by Turner Construction Company

Discover the workshops: https://vusummit.com/workshops/

Workshop capacity is limited—register now to secure your place, connect with the experts shaping the future of vertical urbanism, and make the most of your VU Summit experience.

Register now: https://vusummit.com/

07/30/2026

Get ready for the Global Tall Building Certification (GTBC) executive program from the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU).

🏫 Launching in early 2027, the GTBC will bring together leading practitioners and academics to deliver a rigorous learning experience designed for those shaping the next generation of cities.

📚 Participating professionals will gain advanced knowledge, expand their networks, and earn a certification demonstrating cross-disciplinary proficiency in one of the world's most dynamic and influential sectors.

✨ Check out program details, key dates, and a preview of the curriculum and faculty:
https://verticalurbanism.org/get-involved/education/gtbc/

Explore what’s ahead, express interest, and stay informed of important program updates.

07/24/2026

The wait is over: CVU merchandise has arrived! 🥳

For decades, the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU) has brought together a global community advancing better cities through research, collaboration, and innovation in tall buildings and urban environments. Now there’s a new way to show your connection to that community.

We’re pleased to introduce the official CVU merchandise collection, featuring a curated selection of apparel and everyday essentials.

Order yours now!
https://shop.cvu.org/collections/merchandise

Address

104 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 620
Chicago, IL
60603

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+13125673487

Website

https://www.verticalurbanism.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Council on Vertical Urbanism posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Council on Vertical Urbanism:

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Chicago?