Overview of IIT's MTBVU 2024 Spring Program
The M.TBVU Spring 2024 design studio program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) was under the instruction of three senior colleagues at SOM (who also previously led the Fall 2023 design studio): Scott Duncan, Design Partner; Jorge Rovira, Senior Associate Principal & Studio Head; and Jason Fisher, Senior Associate Principal & Studio Head. Themed "Nova Pro Forma Adapt," this studio looked at the downtowns of New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco, and the existing tall buildings that don’t fulfill their original intended potential due to socio-economic shifts and the COVID pandemic. The goal for the students was to address these challenges head-on and transform the existing tall buildings through meticulously crafted action plans, which not only focus on architectural redesign but also incorporate robust business cases for new uses of these structures. Students explored a wide range of innovative uses and adapted these to the context of their studio projects:
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Carbon Capture;
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Energy Generation;
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Energy Storage;
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Food Production;
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Server Farming;
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Multifamily Housing; or
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Other uses.
Students conducted a thorough analysis of the downtown developments in the three U.S. cities, examining the current state of the buildings, occupancy rates, structural conditions, and market possibilities. A critical component of this studio was the crucial selection of specific buildings for adaptative reuse. Students not only were tasked to justify their building selection but also had to develop a comprehensive Nova Pro Forma case for its transformation.
With the support of CTBUH, students traveled to New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco, where experts from the SOM offices in each location provided valuable insights through presentations and interactions, enriching their learning experience.
Students in the MTBVU Spring 2024 studio traveled to New York City to explore the downtown development and analyze the project site. Image: Allison Drooger
On Thursday, 25 April 2024, in Crown Hall at IIT, the final presentations for the design studio occurred in front of the instructors and invited guest reviewers which included Nick Anderson, President, Fern Hill Company; Reed Kroloff, Dean, College of Architecture, IIT; Javier Quintana de Uña, Chief Executive Officer, CTBUH; and Adam Semel, Managing Partner, SOM. Those who attended were impressed by the inspiring work of each student, and their proposals for innovative and interesting ways to transform underperforming existing tall buildings. These proposals not only dedicated spaces to new programs but also creatively expressed and reflected on the building façade as another element to re-activate it.
Left: Allison Drooger explains her design titled “Crypto Quarry” for the MTBVU Spring 2024 studio final reviews;
Right: “Urban Foundry” by Davis Housman for the MTBVU Spring 2024 studio final reviews. Images: Jaeva Tomol
Throughout the semester, students in the M.TBVU program also took two seminar courses that complemented the studio. The "Talking Tall II" course that was intended for a small group, examined the physical, environmental, and social sustainability aspects of urban density and tall buildings, at human, architectural, and urban scales. Students were tasked to develop a focused research topic of personal relevance or a CTBUH-suggested topic, in conjunction with instructors, for output and potential dissemination through the Council. The instructors included Dr. Antony Wood, CTBUH President and Director of the MTBVU program at IIT; Dr. Yohan Kim, CTBUH Academic Coordinator and Assistant Director of the MTBVU program at IIT; Daniel Safarik, CTBUH Director of Research & Thought Leadership and Editor-in-Chief; Will Miranda, CTBUH Senior Research Manager; and Isaac Work, CTBUH Building Data Coordinator. Additionally, as part of the course, the students had the opportunity through the support of CTBUH, to travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi and experience a wide range of building and office tours, conversations with industry-leading experts, and urban cultural excursions.
The second seminar course entitled "Tall Building Technologies II", was taught by Dr. Yohan Kim and discussed specific technical aspects of tall buildings (i.e., double-skin façades). Each student in the class developed their own double-skin façade system while exploring various typologies of this system to enable “breathing” buildings and create “inhabitable” cavities. Students then incorporated their double-skin façade systems into their design studio projects with the goal to minimize environmental impact and enhance the built environment across physical, social, and cultural realms.
Yeni Guarneros presents her project titled “The Hive Double Skin Façade for Drones” for the Tall Building Technologies II final reviews. Image: Yohan Kim
On Friday May 3, 2024, the IIT College of Architecture’s 2024 Open House, titled “In/Print,” commenced at 5:00 PM in Crown Hall. This year-end exhibition highlights the 2023-24 academic year’s collection of student work, including selected projects from the MTBVU studios led by SOM of “Nova Pro Forma” from Fall 2023 and “Nova Pro Forma Adapt” from Spring 2024. Additionally, the final outputs of the Tall Building Technologies II course, such as drawings and simulation results, were displayed at the exhibit along with other student work. A multitude of viewers came to see the exhibition including a number of professors, students, and guests who were inspired by the work presented. The digital 2024 Open House will officially launch on Friday May 10, 2024.
Visitors looking at the student work from the MTBVU Spring 2024 studio, in the designated area for the MTBVU program in the Crown Hall Center Core. Image: Yohan Kim
The Next Generation of MTBVU Students
An information session was held on Wednesday 10 April 2024 in Crown Hall at IIT to promote the MTBVU program to IIT undergraduate students interested in applying for the co-terminal program (i.e., B.Arch + MTBVU). This session was supported by the IIT College of Architecture and CTBUH, aimed at providing comprehensive information on the MTBVU program, application process, studio, lecture/seminar courses, and student opportunities. Presenters for the session included 2024 program instructors Dr. Yohan Kim and Jason Fisher, guest reviewer and CTBUH CEO Javier Quintana de Uña, along with Cynthia Torress, Director of Academic Affairs, College of Architecture, IIT; Allison Drooger, 2023-24 MTBVU Student; and Katarzyna Wodzisz, 2022-23 MTBVU Student.
Javier Quintana de Uña, Chief Executive Officer, CTBUH, gives a presentation on the overview of CTBUH and its support for the MTBVU program. Image: Yohan Kim
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.
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