The blueprint for our success.
For over 50 years, the Council on Vertical Urbanism has shaped the global conversation on cities and tall buildings. Explore our legacy, learn about our philosophy, or even help us further our mission.
Founded in 1969 as The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, we are perhaps best-known as the global arbiter of tall building height, conferring the title of “World’s tallest building.” We also maintain the definitive repository of detailed data, images, and technical information on more than 40,000 tall buildings across the globe.
With offices in Chicago, Shanghai, Toronto, and Venice, we activate hundreds of multidisciplinary programs each year through extensive chapters and council representatives, annual international and regional conferences, a global awards program, cutting-edge research projects and academic collaborations, and wide-ranging online resources.
Vertical urbanism
Although we are the global authority on tall buildings, “vertical urbanism” transcends height. It is a philosophy that examines how urban environments can be more sustainable, livable, innovative, and connected by growing upward—not outward.
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History
Explore how the Council on Vertical Urbanism grew from a visionary idea into the global hub of multi-disciplinary research and innovation and the leading authority on the world’s tallest buildings.
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Level up your industry knowledge.
Explore our extensive research archive, a vast collection of documents, reports, and other resources revealing new ideas and proven best practices in sustainable vertical urbanism—hosted on the Engage platform.
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