CTBUH International Research Seed Funding
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is pleased to announce the awarding of the 2021 International Research Seed Funding grant to Dr. Fatemeh Aminpour, Associate Lecturer, School of the Built Environment, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
Dr. Aminpour has won a grant of $15,000, kindly sponsored by Arup, to explore the nature of spaces preferred by children in vertical schools and used for their self-directed activities, but not necessarily considered in advance by designers for the purpose of the activities that take place in them, nor are they valued by school administrators. The research also aims to investigate the problems children face in vertical schools that can be regulated by physical environment design. Using a socio-ecological framework, this participatory qualitative study will identify the multiple environmental characteristics of child-friendly vertical schools. These environments are critical for children’s self-directed activities, through which they develop executive functioning and a sense of belonging. The findings will inform school design and school policy of the nature of these environments that should be valued in vertical schools.
The CTBUH 2021 International Research Seed Funding Initiative is a key aspect of the advancement of the CTBUH’s Research Division. The initiative was created to assist researchers in developing projects and ideas to a level that can secure more significant funding, in the form of collaborations and joint proposals in conjunction with the CTBUH.
Key Dates
-
12 October 2021: Call for Submissions
-
10 December 2021: Submissions due
-
December 2021 – February 2022: Jury Deliberates
-
17 March 2022: Winning Team Announced
-
March 2022 – September 2022 Research Conducted
Selection Committee & Criteria
The evaluation of proposals are undertaken by the CTBUH Expert Peer Review Committee, with guidance from the funding sponsor. The committee reflects a multi-disciplinary group of tall building/urban experts from around the world, with established research and publication records, as well as tall building experience in varying fields. After a first-round evaluation by the Expert Peer Review Committee, the top five proposals are then reviewed by a jury representing the Seed Funding Sponsor and CTBUH representatives to determine the winner. The CTBUH reserves the right to reject all applications and grant no awards.
submission requirements / criteria / procedures
Full details of the Research Seed Funding initiative, including submission requirements, criteria, procedures, etc. can be found in the Award Brief document.
2021 Seed Funding Sponsor:
Past Research Seed Funding Projects
2020 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: CITIC Heye Investment Co., Ltd.
Building Above Our Cities: Mass Timber Construction Creating Sustainable and Socially-Connected Communities
Principal Investigator: Paul Kremer, Deakin University
Objective: Explore how mass timber vertical extensions can work with bridging connections, at height, to form interconnected communities.
Research project to be completed August 2022.
2019 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: CTBUH
Tall Mixed-use Building Real Estate, Energy System,
and Solar Photovoltaic Performance
Principal Investigator: Sofia Dermisi, University of Washington
Objective: Assess the ways in which energy-efficient systems and sustainable energy supplies can address the unique demands of tall mixed-use building programs.
Research project completed November 2020; Research paper to be published in CTBUH Journal.
2018 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited
Tall Buildings' Lower Public Spaces: Impact on Health and Behavior
Principal Investigator: Dr. Ye Yu, Tongji University
Objective: To research the health and social impacts of public spaces around tall buildings, with the goal of identifying urban design strategies that enable healthy lifestyles.
Read the Research Paper
2017 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited
Façade Fire Incidents in Tall Buildings
Principal Investigator: Michael Spearpoint, Olsson Fire & Risk
Objective: To develop a database of high-rise fires that could be applied to the field of machine-learning, which may lead to new and innovative fire solutions.
Read the Research Paper
2016 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: Taipei Financial Center Corporation
How Do Outdoor Pollutant Concentrations Vary Along the Height of Tall Building?
Principal Investigator: Brent Stephens, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
Objective: Measure the variations in pollution levels along the height of a supertall building, considering floor height, wind speed and wind direction as factors.
Read the Research Paper
2015 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited
Skyscrapers and Skylines: The Case of China
Principal Investigator: Jason Barr, Rutgers University
Objective: Conduct research on the determinants of skyscraper heights and completion rates across 62 Chinese cities from 1978 to 2014, to determine which factors contribute to development.
Get the Research Report
2014 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: East China Architectural Design & Research Institute
Building Façade Retrofit: A Database of Completed Projects
Principal Investigator: Andrea Martinez and Mic Patterson, University of Southern California
Objective: Conduct a study and build a database of existing façade-design optimization projects undertaken on tall buildings to date.
Read the Research Paper
2013 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: Arup
Vertical Greenery: Evaluating the High-Rise Vegetation of the Bosco Verticale, Milan
Principal Investigator: Dr. Elena Giacomello, Iuav University of Venice
Objective: Examine all aspects of the design and construction, as well as the ongoing status of the extensive plantings, on the “Vertical Forest” tower in Milan, evaluating the effectiveness of the plants as part of the building envelope.
Preview the Research Report
2012 International Research Seed Funding
Funding Sponsor: AECOM
Designing Tall Buildings to Promote Physical Activity in China
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kristen Day, Polytechnic Institute, New York University
Objective: Study the impact of tall building developments on physical activity in China, and provide guidance for the design of tall buildings and districts that can positively improve health in China’s rapidly growing cities.
Read the Research Paper
Get the Latest News and Updates from CTBUH
Fields with an asterisk (*) next to them are required.
View our privacy policy