The Masters of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism (M.TBVU) program, a collaboration between the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), has seen significant growth, with 13 students enrolled in the Fall 2024 design studio, and 32 and 55 students enrolled in the elective courses Talking Tall I and Tall Building Technologies I, respectively.

_{Students from the M.TBVU Fall 2024 studio with the studio instructors and invited critics to the final reviews at IIT in Crown Hall Center Core. Image: Dave Burk © SOM}

The M.TBVU Fall 2024 design studio was led by three senior colleagues from Skidmore, Owings & Merril (SOM), who also previously taught the Spring 2024 design studio: Scott Duncan, Design Partner; Jorge Rovira, Senior Associate Principal & Studio Head; and Jason Fisher, Senior Associate Principal & Studio Head—marking  their second consecutive academic year of involvement. Themed "The Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Design of Tall Buildings," this studio challenged students to think beyond conventional architectural practices by integrating AI-driven processes in the design, construction, and management of tall buildings. From machine learning algorithms optimizing structural efficiency to AI systems enhancing building performance and user experience, students delved into the practical and theoretical implications of AI in skyscraper design. Sites were selected by each student within a major U.S. city that had a population exceeding 500,000 inhabitants. The chosen site aligned with the studio's focus on AI integration and tall building design, considering factors such as urban density, technological infrastructure, and sustainability challenges.

The building program was residential-focused with the following AI-integrated components:

• AI-tailored living spaces

• Machine learning smart systems

• AI-controlled cleaning and maintenance

• In-home health monitoring systems

• AI-managed vertical gardens and recycling systems

• Energy production and retention systems with AI optimization

• Dynamic space reconfiguration capabilities

_{Experts in the industry were invited as guest critics for the M.TBVU Fall 2024 studio final reviews. Image: Dave Burk © SOM}

On Tuesday, 26 November 2024, the final presentations for the M.TBVU Fall 2024 design studio took place in Crown Hall at IIT. The presentations were delivered in front of the instructors and invited guest reviewers, including Dr. Antony Wood, CTBUH President and Director of the M.TBVU program at IIT; Kumar Kintala, Innovation Hub Director at Discovery Partners Institute; and Mark Ladd, Principal at Monarch Equities. The reviewers were highly impressed by the students' proposals, which were both inspirational and exciting, offering innovative approaches to the design of tall buildings. The projects leveraged emerging AI technologies and explored a potential paradigm shift in architectural design. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, students made well-informed design decisions from the early stages of their projects, addressing specific design challenges and responding effectively to the unique conditions of their project sites. 

See the Final Outputs from Fall 2024

_{Left: Anastasiya Kovylina explains her design titled “ReBio Tower” for the M.TBVU Fall 2024 studio final reviews;
Right: “AI Integrated Vernacular” by Jack Archer for the M.TBVU Fall 2024 studio final reviews. Images: Dave Burk © SOM}

Throughout the semester, students in the M.TBVU program also took two lecture courses, part of the program's required curriculum, which were open to non-M.TBVU students as electives. The course "Talking Tall I," led by Dr. Antony Wood, explored various aspects of physical, environmental, and social sustainability concerning urban density and tall buildings, addressing these elements at human, architectural, and urban scales. 

_{The Talking Tall I class, convened weekly by Dr. Antony Wood, featured quizzes throughout the semester. The top three winners who excelled in these quizzes received prizes, including CTBUH publications
(From right: Jillian Oligschlaeger (3rd place), Mohammed Aldelfi (1st place), and Eric Duenser (2nd place)). Image: Antony Wood}

Dr. Yohan Kim, CTBUH Academic Coordinator and Assistant Director of the M.TBVU program at IIT convened the lecture course entitled “Tall Building Technologies I”, which focused on the technical aspects of tall buildings and sustainable cities. This course featured lectures from external experts, primarily from CTBUH member companies, including Don Friedman, Founder, Old Structures Engineering; Ed Curley & Greg Osborne, Directors, Epstein; Eric Kopinski and Yimeng Wang, Senior Designers, Omni Ecosystems; Jacob Erwin, Director, and Derek Groenwoldt, National Practice Leader, Lerch Bates; Jeff Harper, Vice President, Jensen Hughes; Kit McDonnell, Director, Lanza Tech; Mark Chiu, Vice President, Thornton Tomasetti; Mehdi Jalayerian, Senior Principal, Stantec; Michael Palmer, Former Principal, and Laszlo Andrasi, Design Application Manager, Perkins & Will; Neel Khosa, President, AMSYSCO; and Seetha Poduri, Lead Consultant, WSP. 

_{The Tall Building Technologies I class concluded at Omni Ecosystems with a lecture on urban greenery (left) followed by a tour of their fascinating facilities (right),
led by Eric Kopinski and Yimeng Wang, Senior Designers. Image: Yohan Kim}

As an extracurricular activity, two M.TBVU students, Kristin Lasorsa and Suriana Rosas-Mozo, attended the CTBUH 2024 International Conference in London and Paris from September 23 to 27 as student representatives of the M.TBVU program. They accepted the CTBUH 2024 International Traveling Studio Award, kindly sponsored by Dusit Central Park. This award will support the M.TBVU International Field Trip to Bangkok, Thailand in Spring 2025 (the previous student trip went to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in Spring 2024), providing important travel stipends for a professor and 11 students. Students in the M.TBVU Spring 2025 design studio  will have the opportunity to travel and explore how Bangkok’s cultural environment influences the design of tall buildings and multifunctional urban areas.

_{Kristin Lasorsa and Suriana Rosas-Mozo, two M.TBVU students, accepted the CTBUH 2024 International Traveling Studio Award, kindly sponsored by Dusit Central Park,
during the closing plenary at the CTBUH 2024 International Conference in London. Image: CTBUH}

A New Student Organization at IIT, Led by M.TBVU Students

Excitingly, the CTBUH-Skyline Architects Society (SAS), has been approved at IIT in Fall 2024 as a new student organization. The group will be led by M.TBVU students, Kristin Lasorsa and Suriana Rosas-Mozo, who will serve as Co-Presidents, with Dr. Yohan Kim as the faculty advisor. CTBUH will support the organization in various ways, including mentorship, portfolio reviews, guest lectures, office visits, and more, leveraging its extensive network. Open to all IIT students interested in tall buildings and sustainable cities, this student organization will be an excellent addition to the IIT student community, offering opportunities to connect professionals and those just entering the field.

The M.TBVU program is the world’s first multidisciplinary advanced degree focused specifically on the high-rise, and the role of urban density in future cities. In an age of rapid urbanization, the tall building—more so than any other building type—holds the key to sustainable existence for humanity on this planet. This new design- and research-based program brings together students and professionals from architecture, real estate, engineering, urban design, construction management, business, finance, and other backgrounds, in a unique learning environment built to foster interdisciplinary research and experience.

Learn more about MTBVU