Achieve a higher standard of tall building expertise.
Tall buildings represent one of the most complex expressions of the built environment—where architecture, engineering, economics, sustainability, and urban strategy converge. Our Global Tall Building Accreditation (GTBA) program equips professionals with the interdisciplinary knowledge required to lead in this evolving field and shape the future of vertical urbanism.
Why participate?
The Global Tall Building Accreditation (GTBA) is the first and only program of its kind, designed to provide professionals with a clear pathway to career advancement in the field of tall buildings and vertical urbanism. Graduates earn a recognized professional credential that affirms their expertise, enhances employability, and connects them to a global network shaping the future of vertical urbanism.
Apply now
The GTBA program is designed for for early- to mid-career professionals involved in the design, development, engineering, and construction of tall buildings and vertical urban environments, including:
• Architects
• Structural and civil engineers
• Urban planners
• Real estate developers
• Construction professionals
• Sustainability specialists
• Professionals working in infrastructure, policy, or urban development
Professionals from related disciplines with an interest in the future of vertical cities are also encouraged to apply.
To apply for the Global Tall Building Accreditation Program, applicants must submit the following materials:
• Completed online application form
• Professional resume or CV
• Work Sample
The application process is designed to be straightforward and accessible for working professionals and typically takes 10–15 minutes to complete.
Applications are reviewed to ensure participants have the professional background and motivation to benefit from the program.
1. Applicants complete the online application form and upload the required materials, including their professional resume or CV.
2. Applications are reviewed by the CVU academic team, considering:
• Professional experience
• Relevance to the tall buildings industry
• Interest in vertical urbanism
3. Applicants typically receive an admission decision within 5–10 business days.
4. Accepted applicants will receive instructions to confirm enrollment and secure their place in the program.
Enrollment is confirmed once tuition payment has been completed.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the cohort is filled.
The program offers several tuition tiers depending on membership status and participation type.
If you are interested in becoming a CVU member, you can learn more about membership here.
Company participation (1 student)
CVU member rate: US $7,600
Non-member: US $9,500
Company participation (2 students)
CVU member rate: US $14,400
Non-member: US $18,000
Individual participation
CVU member rate: US $9,000
Non-member: US $9,500
Individual participants are encouraged to reach out to our academic team to discuss potential financial aid options.
Program tuition includes:
• Participation in all program sessions,
• Course materials and resources,
• Participation in masterclasses and integration workshops,
• Final accreditation examination,
• VU Summit registration,
• Global Tall Building Accreditation certificate, and
• Food and beverages covered during in-person period.
Participants are responsible for travel and accommodation expenses associated with the in-person intensive week.
Applications open
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Application deadline
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Program start
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For questions about the program and/or application process, please contact CVU Academic Coordinator, Kristin LaSorsa at [email protected].
A blueprint for success in the tall buildings industry.
Participants will:
- Engage in a one-of-a-kind program dedicated exclusively to the interdisciplinary planning, design, engineering, and delivery of tall buildings;
- Advance their careers by gaining specialized expertise and strategic insight valued by leading firms and organizations;
- Earn a recognized professional credential that signals multidisciplinary competence and leadership in vertical urban development;
- Develop an integrated understanding of how structural, architectural, mechanical, and urban systems interact within complex projects; and
- Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration through real-world case studies and engagement with industry leaders.
Be recognized as a leader in vertical urbanism.
Developed exclusively by the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU), the Global Tall Building Accreditation (GTBA) is a distinguished professional credential that formally recognizes advanced, multidisciplinary expertise in the planning, design, engineering, and delivery of tall buildings. Earning the GTBA signals verified competence to employers, clients, and industry peers and differentiates recipients in a competitive global marketplace. Additionally, it aligns them with CVU’s internationally respected authority.
Through a rigorous curriculum and engagement with leading industry experts, participants gain a holistic understanding of tall building performance—technically, economically, and within the broader context of urban development—while joining a global network of accredited professionals shaping the future of vertical urbanism.
Learn from experts shaping the world’s skylines.
The GTBA program blends academic rigor with real-world insight through an immersive hybrid format. Participants learn from experienced industry professionals—including leaders of CVU and the global tall building sector—who are also practitioners with teaching experience. This ensures that instruction is both practically grounded and pedagogically sound.
Lectures, case studies, and collaborative discussions promote interdisciplinary thinking, while a Masterclass series explores specialized and emerging topics. Integration workshops bring faculty together to examine how building systems interact within real projects, reinforcing a holistic understanding of vertical urbanism.
Meet the faculty
Global education partners
Leading organizations contributing to the future of tall building education.
Course format
The program is delivered over nine weeks in a hybrid format that blends in-person learning with live online instruction. Across the program, participants complete 50 expert-led sessions spanning 10 subject areas.
Participants are evaluated through structured coursework and a comprehensive final certification examination.
- Understanding Tall Buildings
- Planning and Development
- Principles of Design
- Economics of Tall
- Structural Design
- Systems and Sustainability
- Vertical Transportation
- Façade Engineering and Design
- Safety, Accessibility and Resilience
- Construction Technologies
The final examination assesses understanding across the full scope of the curriculum, including systems integration, design, performance, development, and delivery of tall buildings.
Participants are expected to attend the in-person intensive week and all scheduled online sessions.
Participants must complete a final accreditation exam evaluating knowledge across the key topics covered in the program.
Participants who successfully complete the program will receive the CVU Global Tall Building Accreditation and a certificate recognizing advanced expertise in tall buildings and vertical urbanism.
“The program brings together academic depth and real-world expertise in a way that reflects the true complexity of tall building practice. It sets a strong foundation for the next generation of professionals in vertical urbanism.”
Industry Leader
CVU
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