CTBUH Global News

Hong Kong: Vertical Transportation Asia

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:47:00 GMT

July 27, Hong Kong

New challenges of vertical transportation arise along with the rise of ultra-tall and tall buildings in Asia. With the buildings get higher, VT engineering is becoming more complex yet critical in terms of reliability, comfort and functionality. Accurate and effective traffic analysis needs to be conducted to decide how many and where the elevators should go in the building…more

CMA CGM Headquarters, Marseille, Zaha Hadid architects

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:46:00 GMT

July 27, Marseille

The new Head Office tower for CMA CGM in Marseille, France rises in a metallic curving arc that slowly lifts from the ground and accelerates skywards into the dramatic vertical geometry of its revolutionary forms. The disparate volumes of the tower are generated from a number of gradual centripetal vectors that emerge from within the solid ground surface…more

A Solar Powered Metallic Cloud Museum for Xiamen

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:44:00 GMT

July 27, Xiamen, China

"Floating" above the city of Xiamen, China like a cloud, this lofty museum takes art and culture to new heights. The brainchild of MAD Architects, the structure's organic, molten metal shape is mirrored, reflecting the beauty of the surrounding environment right onto its walls…more

Virtual computer-generated skyscraper in Brazil

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:42:00 GMT

July 27, Brazil

Brazilian practice Königsberger Vannucchi Architects has entered the record books with the world’s biggest augmented reality marker for its latest skyscraper. The Fibrasa Connection project allows customers and potential buyers for the office development to see the building in situ before construction work has even begun…more

Albert Speer & Partner in Shanghai wins 'North Bund' international ideas competition

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:40:00 GMT

July 27, Shanghai

The area that was the subject of the competition, what is known as the ‘North Bund’ in Hongkou District, covers some two sq km and plays an important role in Shanghai's urban development. The site is intended to provide the two famous districts with important services and public facilities…more

St Mowden Drop Queens Market Plans in London

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:38:00 GMT

July 26, London

Frustrated with their inability to secure planning permission for the redevelopment of Queen's Market in the London borough of Newham, developer St Mowden has decided to withdraw their plans and put the scheme on ice. Overlooking Green Street and Upton Park, the project featured a 97 metre tall, 31-storey tower…more

Oak Park expects demolition to start soon for controversial tower

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:36:00 GMT

July 26, Oak Park, Chicago

Oak Park village officials expect to grant a demolition permit to a developer who is still trying to get financing for a controversial condo and hotel tower in the western suburb. The demolition of the one-story retail strip at Lake and Forest Avenues, once home to a grocery and the Original Pancake House, had been delayed…more

Woods Bagot: Shijiazhuang Exhibition and Convention Centre

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:33:00 GMT

July 26, Shijiazhuang

International architectural firm Woods Bagot has received first prize in the design competition for the 'Shijiazhung International Exhibition and Convention Center' in Shijiazhuaung, China. The winning master plan and concept design aim to showcase the Chinese city as a global destination for conference delegates and tourists…more

Leicester: Design student looks to generate electrical power from high-rise waste water

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:31:00 GMT

July 26, Leicester

A system for generating small quantities of electricity from waste water has been suggested by Tom Broadbent, a graduating industrial design student at Leicester’s De Montfort University. Called HighDro Power, Broadbent’s brainwave uses an in-line turbine to generate electricity from falling waste water in the soil pipes of high-rise buildings…more

Petra + Papaioannou: Tower of Piraeus

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:29:00 GMT

July 24, Piraeus, Greece

Athens-based firms Petra Architects and Papaioannou & Associates are exploring new and sustainable ways of treating tower facades with their design proposal of the 'Tower of Piraeus'. The pre-existing structure has been abandoned for years, dominating the port and the cityscape of Greece's third largest municipality…more

Luxury condo tower in Los Angeles is completed

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:27:00 GMT

July 24, Los Angeles

The Art Deco-inspired Century City condominium tower expected to be the home of wealthy widow Candy Spelling and many other moneyed residents has been completed after years of planning, demolition and construction. The dramatic 41-story Century on Avenue of the Stars is targeted at a sliver of home buyers…more

Russian High Court Rules against St. Petersburg Skyscraper

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:22:00 GMT

July 24, St. Petersburg

The Russian Constitutional Court has ruled against the construction of the controversial Okhta Center skyscraper. The court argued that when approving construction projects in the historical part of the city, St. Petersburg's city government should adhere to Russian law as well as international laws on cultural-heritage preservation…more

Bradford’s CityGate Rises From The Dead

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:41:00 GMT

July 22, Bradford

Hopes had been dashed that the Aspire CityGate development in Bradford, a 110 meter tall tower and associated apartments in shorter buildings totaling 729 units would ever be realized following the collapse of the developer, Asquith Properties. The original proposals for the scheme featured a 22 story tower, but this was scaled up to 37 floors…more

Herzog & De Meuron: Beirut Terraces

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:38:00 GMT

July 22, Beirut

Plans have been unveiled for 'Beirut Terraces' a new residential development by Swiss duo Herzog & De Meuron. Situated in heart of the capital the project was revealed to celebrate the commencement of construction. The concept behind 'Beirut Terraces' offers a revival of the urban lifestyle integrating indoor and outdoor living spaces…more

Architecture firms re-imagine our future cities

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:36:00 GMT

July 22, New York & Los Angeles

What will our cities look like in 2030? The question was posed to three well-known architecture firms. The results are stunning, and in many ways, revolutionary. From how we live, work, commute and play, each firm has taken a unique approach in the ways in which our cities will fundamentally change in the future…more

Upstate Medical University buys Syracuse apartment buildings for student housing

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:30:00 GMT

July 22, Syracuse, NY

Upstate Medical University has purchased two vacant apartment buildings in downtown Syracuse as part of a plan to create housing for students and medical residents. Upstate announced it has acquired Townsend Tower and Harrison House from the state and will spend about $18 million renovating them…more

The new 35-story upscale Waikiki condo holds its grand opening today amid lofty expectations

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:27:00 GMT

July 22, Waikiki

The developer of Allure Waikiki will host a ceremony to celebrate the opening of Honolulu's newest condominium tower. The upscale high-rise on the former site of the Wave Waikiki nightclub at Kalakaua Avenue and Ena Road has achieved only modest sales amid the economic downturn, but completion of the 35-story tower is good reason to celebrate…more

Canary Wharf skyscraper finally ok-ed after 10-year battle

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:25:00 GMT

July 22, Canary Wharf

A skyscraper that will become one of London's biggest buildings has finally been given the go-ahead to be started. Controversy and complications have dogged the plans for the Heron Quays West site at Canary Wharf for almost 10 years. Permission was granted in 2008 for three buildings that would eventually create almost 8,000 jobs - but progress was halted…more

Using elevators in fires

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:23:00 GMT

July 21

Engineers in the United States are rethinking the traditional stairwell centered approach to emergency egress from buildings and embracing a more holistic strategy that includes all aspects of building design and operation, and their impacts on occupant safety. Elevators are a key component of this strategy…more

eVolo Skyscraper Competition

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:20:00 GMT

July 21

Students, architects, engineers, and designers from around the globe are invited to take part in the eVolo 2011 Skyscraper Competition. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged. The aim of this competition is to redefine what we understand as a skyscraper and initiate a new architectural discourse…more

More Than Skin Deep

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:18:00 GMT

July 21

At least since Modernism emerged in the early 20th century architects have been fascinated with glass. They’ve exploited the material’s properties to make buildings that almost disappear, to create a glowing effect at night, and to enhance connectivity with the outdoors. But a mostly transparent building can be at odds with sustainability…more

PetroVietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation to build a 528-m tower

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:17:00 GMT

July 21, Vietnam

The PetroVietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC) is planning to build a 528-m tower. The project is estimated to cost 1.2 billion USD which will be contributed by PVC, its parent company the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN), the Ocean Group and the real estate developer SSG Group…more

Illa Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:01:00 GMT

July 21, Barcelona

Illa Del Mar: A 675,250-square-foot residential high rise with two towers, at 23 and 27 stories each, linked via a 5-story connector. They include 252 units ranging from one to four bedrooms, along with a heated swimming pool, playground, paddle tennis court, fitness rooms, and a large communal terrace…more

Korea to bankroll ’smart’ Chicago skyscrapers

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:55:00 GMT

July 21, Chicago

By dimming lights or lowering water temperature on a massive scale, the owners of some of Chicago’s signature skyscrapers are banking on new technology that would dramatically cut the city’s energy usage and save millions of dollars. The technology is being bankrolled by an unusual source: The Republic of Korea…more

C.F.Moller: Harbour Stones, Gothenburg

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:08:00 GMT

July 19, Gothenburg, Sweden

Scandanavian C.F.Moller Architects have won the competition to design the master plan for a new housing district in the Lindholm Area of Gothenburg, Sweden. The Lindholm Area, dominated by former industrial buildings and shipyards, has been transformed in a typical manner into large-scale business districts and open plazas…more

Dnipropetrovsks Tower Bridges The Gap

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:05:00 GMT

July 19, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine

Dnipropetrovsk is a city in the Ukraine that few outside of the country will have heard of but all of that could change if a rather unique looking tower gets underway. Called Brama, the 180 metre tall 54 scheme has already been approved by the local planning authorities despite having won few fans thanks to its unusual design by Ukranian firm, Dolnik & Co…more

Houston's $300 million skyscraper: The for-sale Heritage Plaza could reach that ceiling

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:04:00 GMT

July 19, Houston

The iconic Heritage Plaza building, the distinctive photographic centerpiece of numerous Houston skyline pictures, is for sale. Recognized for the stepped granite feature at the top, which resembles a Mayan temple, the Heritage Plaza is attracting the interest of investors from around the world…more

Vote may clear way for Santa Ana skyscraper

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:02:00 GMT

July 19, Santa Ana

A skyscraping tower that would dwarf anything else in Santa Ana could be under construction by the end of 2010 if the City Council votes to waive several long-standing conditions. Construction of the proposed 37-story tower, on Broadway just north of downtown, would take around 24 months and employ some 2,900 workers…more

Photos Of Singapore's Skyscraper Infinity Pool

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:56:00 GMT

July 18, Singapore

Las Vegas Sands spent billions constructing Marina Bay Sands, the world's most expensive standalone resort. This massive hospitality project is set to bump Singapore's already slap happy GDP growth rate up another 0.8% as the venture is expected to generate $1 billion in profits per year…more

Louisville developers plan to add more than 840 hotel rooms downtown

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:54:00 GMT

July 18, Louisville

Two hotels at the Museum Plaza skyscraper. Two new hotels in the Whiskey Row block. And another adjacent to the Henry Clay building. In all, developers are proposing to add at least 840 rooms in downtown Louisville in the coming years. And both they and local tourism officials are confident the rooms will be filled…more

Kenzo Tange Do Chongqing Supertall

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:52:00 GMT

July 18, Chonqing

The enormous scheme called Jiangbei District spans three city blocks, and is of the scale that many of the larger property developers are aiming for - no longer are single buildings enough for them, they want to develop entire urban districts where development can be done en masse…more

A New Face for Hamburg’s Harborfront

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:49:00 GMT

July 18, Hamburg

The top of a bright orange, 42-foot-tall observation tower, wasn’t much of a stretch to look down at the thousands of amateur runners, all wearing the same white T-shirt as they jogged a four-kilometer route through Hamburg, and imagine them as streams of worker ants, rushing through an enormous, half completed designer colony…more

Belgian ‘Museum Aan de Stroom’ Completed in Antwerp

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:47:00 GMT

July 17, China

The new Museum Aan de Stroom (MAS), designed by Rotterdam-based Neutelings Riedijk Architects as a sixty-meter-high tower landmark in Antwerp, Belgium, has been completed. During one week in May 2010. Now the MAS will be closed for another year to move the collection and set up the exhibitions. Official opening is foreseen in Spring 2011…more

China’s Instant Cities

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:45:00 GMT

July 17, China

China will add more than 17 million people to its urban population in 2010. To house this unprecedented wave of migration from the country side, cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou are building countless high-rise residential towers at breakneck speed. The construction sites are almost impossible to enter but once inside, it’s like entering a science fiction novel…more

High rise towers at Sydney’s CUB site Broadway get approval

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:43:00 GMT

July 16, Sydney

Frasers Property has gained project approvals for the first stages of its massive Central Park building project at Broadway. Two residential towers designed by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, with 593 apartments, have been approved. They will sit above a five-level retail podium on Broadway…more

China’s urban disease

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:40:00 GMT

July 16, China

Despite the “Better City, Better Life” theme of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, many argue China’s cities are becoming ever less habitable. Southern Metropolis Daily reporter Zhang Chuanwen discusses the problems facing China’s cities with Professor Zhang Song of Shanghai Tongji University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning…more

Skyscraper boom adds to HCM City traffic problem

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:20:00 GMT

July 16, Vietnam

The mushrooming of high-rise buildings in HCM City's central districts is causing severe traffic problems, experts warn. In the last five years, 63 housing complexes were developed in the city center. Since 2007 around 85 office buildings, hotels, and shopping malls with a total area of nearly 1.1 million square meters have been licensed…more

Versace And Damac Team Up In Beirut

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:18:00 GMT

July 15, Beirut

Damac has teamed up with Italian designer Versace to bring this new tower proposal to the rich in Beirut. With 28 stories, the residential tower is intended to stand overlooking the Mediterranean in the Solidere district, Beirut's equivalent to Knightsbridge or Beverley Hills. The design of the building features a rippling façade…more

Futuristic Eco-Skyscraper is a Self-Sufficient Solar Spire

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:16:00 GMT

July 15

While it looks a bit like something that Queen Amidala might wear on her head, this incredible tower is actually a concept for a multi-use skyscraper for the city of Yerevan in Armenia. Designed by Vahan Misakyan, the insect-like building consists of “structural geodesics” that link up via habitable bridges…more

Penn Plaza tower OK'd

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:12:00 GMT

July 15, New York

Zone it and they will come. At least that's what the developer of a proposed behemoth of a tower on the site of the Hotel Pennsylvania is hoping now that city planners yesterday approved zoning changes needed to build a skyscraper taller than the Chrysler Building. The approvals more than double the size of a building that could go up on Seventh Avenue…more

Tree Hotel

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:08:00 GMT

July 14, Sweden

The 'treehotel' is set to open this weekend. Located in Harads, Sweden about 60 km south of the arctic circle - currently consisting of four rooms: the cabin, the blue cone, the nest and the mirrorcube. The project was conceived by Tree Hotel Co-Founder Kent Lindvall, a former guidance counselor who came up with the concept with his wife Britta…more

Tishman Construction bought for $245M

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:04:00 GMT

July 14, Los Angeles

Los Angeles-based Aecom Technology has acquired Tishman Construction in a $245 million deal, the companies announced today. New York City-based Tishman, one of the largest construction companies in the country, has overseen numerous high-profile projects including the original World Trade Center, One Bryant Park -- the first LEED-Platinum skyscraper…more

Periscope / Matter Design

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:56:00 GMT

July 15, Atlanta

For the Young Architects Forum Atlanta’s 10UP! National Architectue Competition, participants were challenged to create a temporary installation for Atlanta. The winning 45 ft tower, Periscope, designed by Brandon Clifford and Wes Mcgee of Matter Design Studio, is an “inhabitable installation with iconic implications to advocate bold architecture.”…more

Złota 44 high-rise project in Warsaw on hold

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:53:00 GMT

July 14, Warsaw

A court has blocked further work on Orco Property Group's signature Złota 44 high-rise project in Warsaw. The decision sends a discouraging signal to international investors. The fate of Złota 44, the Daniel Libeskind-designed skyscraper which currently stands incomplete in the very heart of Warsaw, hangs in the balance after a recent court decision…more

London: High Hopes

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:49:00 GMT

July 14, London

During the recession, construction of London’s most grandiose building schemes ground to a halt. Now architects are dusting off their old plans and our skyline is once again being transformed. But is this era of austerity really the time for extravagant towers, asks Kieran Long. …more

HUD Gives Museum Plaza Leg Up

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:47:00 GMT

July 13, Louisville

At more than 60 stories, the multi-tower, mixed-use Museum Plaza was set to redefine the skyline of Louisville, Kentucky, when it was unveiled in 2006. After the REX-designed project was put on hold due to the financial crisis, however, many assumed that a project of that scale and complexity would never rise, given continuing lending scarcities…more

World’s 10 Largest Construction Projects

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:43:00 GMT

July 13

Engineering News-Record, a sister publication to Architectural Record, has released its list of the 10 largest construction projects around the globe. The projects range in scope and purpose, from creating a vacation hot spot in the Persian Gulf to diverting water to quench North China’s thirst. The projects here have been ranked by cost, based on U.S. dollars…more

Powering Up in New Haven

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:38:00 GMT

July 13, New Haven

In late May, a 60,000-pound fuel cell nearly the size of a freight car was hoisted onto the site of 360 State Street, a mixed-use highrise under construction in downtown New Haven. The 400-kilowatt unit is the first large-scale fuel cell to power a residential development anywhere in the world, according to the building’s developer…more

Taipei’s Pixelated Apartment Complex Maximizes Light and Green Space

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:16:00 GMT

July 13, Taipei

Pixelated designs are apparently in vogue, and BIG adds to the typology with Taipei City Wall, a community tower composed of stacked apartment blocks. BIG arranged the layout of the boxes in a way that maximizes the site area in order to provide more light for each residence and access to green space as well as recreational areas…more

Russia's project approval body permits to build St. Petersburg skyscraper

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:14:00 GMT

July 13, St. Petersburg

Russia's state authority for project examination and approval gave a green light to the construction of a 400-meter skyscraper in downtown St. Petersburg, considered a UNESCO world heritage site. The ruling, which concerns technical aspects of the construction, paves the way for final approval of the highly controversial project…more