Tall building designers don attire representing buildings they have worked on

On 30 October 2019, in conjunction with the CTBUH 10th World Congress, CTBUH hosted a 50th Anniversary Dinner at Aqua Tower. The evening was inspired by the Beaux-Arts Ball of 1931, in which architects arrived dressed as their building creations. In this modern reinterpretation, industry titans donned costumes inspired by tall buildings involving their firms. Also taking place during the Anniversary Dinner was the distribution of honorary plaques to the Owner/Developers involved in the milestone projects selected as part of the “50 Most Influential Tall Buildings of the last 50 Years” initiative. Each skyscraper, selected from CTBUH member nominations and with input from CTBUH Leaders, represents a momentous change in thinking or technique. With nearly 500 people in attendance, the 50th Anniversary Dinner was a spirited affair befitting the CTBUH legacy, demonstrating broad industrial growth by acknowledging extraordinary tall building achievements.

BEAUX-ARTS BALL INSPIRED TALL BUILDING COSTUMES

A significant portion of the CTBUH 50th Anniversary Congress Dinner attendees arrived in variations on the black-tie theme by topping their tuxedos and ball gowns with sculptural and structural adornments to convey essential characteristics of iconic tall buildings. Some interpretations were more literal (see 1201 Third Street, TwentyTwo, CITIC Tower, and MahaNakhon), and others translated recognizable building motifs into objects that straddled the line between wearable garment and costume attire, echoing hints of haute couture (see Aqua Tower’s undulating balconies; International Commerce Center’s reflective cladding; Shanghai Tower’s gentle spiral; CIMC Qianhai Tower’s striated exterior). Many costume wearers combined tried-and-true methods, combining custom cloth patterns with found objects for dramatic flair (see Buzludzha’s hanger-suspended skirt, Torre Costanera’s sheer-fabric overlay, and Emirates Park Towers’ painted high-density foam), while still others fired up 3D printers to create wearable replicas of their tall building muses (see miniature Petronas Towers worn as jetpacks). No matter the method, the 40-plus costume-wearers made a collective impact walking the red carpet, such that jury deliberations were challenging in selecting the “final seven” and the overall winner.

Also taking place during the Anniversary Dinner was the distribution of honorary plaques to the Owner/Developers involved in the milestone projects selected as part of the 50 Most Influential Tall Buildings of the Last 50 Years initiative. Each skyscraper, selected by the CTBUH Research and Data team, as well as from member nominations, represents a momentous change in thinking or technique.

“50” Most Influential Tall Buildings

Owner/Developers representing the 50 Most Influential Tall Buildings of the Last 50 Years accept plaques of recognition.

Scenes from the Dinner

Delegates enjoy posing at a tall building-themed step-and-repeat, a cocktail hour, and socializing.