Historically, urban space has existed within the pedestrian realm - a series of streets, promenades and grand urban spaces all accessed and experienced with the strolling speed of a brisk walk. With the advent of the street car and automobile, urban spaces began to change in size and scale to accommodate these new technologies.

What happens when we add vertical and three-dimensional travel to the speed of our urban experience? Pickard Chilton and Arup have collaborated on the concept design for a Mega-Skyport – Uber’s vision for a next-generation urban aviation transport system. Dubbed “Sky Tower,” the project is intended to facilitate at least 1,000 vehicle arrivals and 1,000 departures per hour, with each vehicle accommodating up to five passengers.

The CTBUH Philadelphia Chapter presents an in-depth look at Uber Sky Tower. After introductory remarks by CTBUH Philadelphia Chapter Chair Kirk Harman, President & Managing Principal, The Harman Group, Jon Pickard, Principal, and Andrew J. Swartzell, Associate & Director of Design Computing, Pickard Chilton present their concept that could come to fruition in the not-too-distant future. Their presentation is followed by an interview-style discussion moderated by CTBUH Philadelphia Chapter Board Member Scott Erdy, Principal, Erdy McHenry Architecture, where they discuss urban space and how the perception of it might change based on this new mode of travel, as well as other topics based on audience questions and comments. While the Sky Tower is conceptual, it is not science fiction. Based on a pragmatic and research-driven approach, the Sky Tower concept delivers to Uber a modular, extensible and sustainable solution that supports their vision for the future of intra-urban transportation.

This event is kindly sponsored by BALA Engineers, The Harman Group, and Langan Engineering.

Attendees will be eligible to receive one (1) hour of continuing education credit for this event (LU|HSW).

Learning Objectives

1. Through learning about three-dimensional intermodal transportation, participants will be able to describe how this paradigm shift in transportation will affect urban space in contemporary urban planning and design.
2. Through a discussion on emerging technologies as related to new modes of terminal and transportation design, participants will be able to explain methods of risk mitigation for a building type that will accommodate urban aviation transportation arrivals and departures.
3. Through examining ways in which urban space may become more three-dimensional as a result of flying taxis and other urban aviation travel, participants will be able to evaluate how this may affect real estate values in the vertical realm.
4. Through a case study on the concept design of Sky Tower, a hub for urban aviation flights, participants will be able to formulate potential construction techniques for satisfying life safety and structural code requirements for this new building type.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Jon Pickard, Principal, Pickard Chilton

Jon Pickard has been recognized internationally for his achievements in architecture. He has designed or collaborated in the design of some of the world’s most recognized buildings, including such prominent projects as the ExxonMobil Global Campus, 609 Main and BG Group Place, all in Houston; Norfolk Southern’s new headquarters and 1180 Peachtree in Atlanta; Northwestern Mutual’s headquarters in Milwaukee; the Devon Energy Center in Oklahoma City; 300 North LaSalle in downtown Chicago; and, the CalPERS Headquarters Complex in Sacramento.

In 2018, Pickard Chilton was invited by Uber to prepare a concept design for their Mega-Skyport – Uber’s vision for a next-generation urban aviation transport system. Dubbed “Sky Tower,” the project facilitates at least 1000 vehicle arrivals and 1000 departures per hour. Designed in collaboration with Arup, the Sky Tower concept delivered to Uber a modular, extensible and sustainable solution that supports their vision for the future of intra-urban transportation. In 2019, Mr. Pickard was a keynote presenter at the Uber Elevate conference, at which he shared his design for the Uber Sky Loft - a concept for an Uber Skyport Mobility Hub for Melbourne, Australia.

Mr. Pickard received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Iowa State University and his Master of Architecture from the Yale School of Architecture. He has lectured extensively at academic institutions and currently serves on the Yale School of Architecture Dean’s Council.

Andrew J. Swartzell, Associate & Director of Design Computing, Pickard Chilton

Andrew Swartzell is an Associate and the Director of Design Computing at Pickard Chilton. In those roles, he enables studio members to adopt and adapt to an array of technological developments at the forefront of the AEC industry and leverages his background in computational design to address complex challenges on projects across the studio.

In collaboration with Arup, Mr. Swartzell led the design efforts for the Uber Sky Tower in 2018 and the subsequent Uber Sky Loft in 2019. As part of the Boston Society of Architects 2019 exhibition and lecture series, Balancing Act: Urbanism & Emerging Technologies, Mr. Swartzell shared the team’s experience designing these projects and discussed how urban air mobility is poised to lift urban transportation into the third dimension in the very near future.

Mr. Swartzell holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Penn State University, where he was also recipient of the Alpha Rho Chi Medal, and a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania.