Best Tall Building Award

The Best Tall Building Award recognizes projects that have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment, and that achieve sustainability and human well-being at the highest and broadest level. The winning projects must also exhibit processes and/or innovations that have added to the profession of design and enhance the cities and the lives of their inhabitants. Best Tall Building Awards are also recognized in two sub-categories: Best Tall Building by Height and Best Tall Building by Region. Projects will automatically be considered for Height and Region awards, based on the common submission form.

For the Best Tall Building, Urban Habitat, and Repositioning categories, presentations must feature members of both the ownership and design team for consideration in the Overall Category award.

• For the 2026 Awards Program, the project must be completed, according to CVU Tall Building Criteria, between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025 (36-month eligibility window). In cases where ongoing works prevent final photography and thus submission to the current year’s awards, a one-year grace period may be granted. For projects that have not started construction yet, please submit for the Future Project Award.
• The project must qualify as a building according to CVU Tall Building Criteria. If your project is a telecommunications/observation tower, please consider submitting for the Best Tall Non-Building Award.

All project data (Completion Date, Heights, Function, Structure Type, etc.) should follow CVU Tall Building Criteria, which can be found here. Where information is known, CVU will automatically populate the award submission form, but submitters retain the ability to add additional building information and amend any of the existing fields, where appropriate.

Please prepare the below materials to ensure that your submission is completed efficiently.

• Basic Info: Name, Location, and Building’s Completion Date
• Project Data: Function, Material, Height, and Number of Floors
• Project Team: Ownership, Designers, Engineers, Contractors

Written Description

The submission will ask the submitter to describe the following:

• The project’s context and surroundings
• Design ideas and original concept
• The sustainability and environmental approach
• How the project is successful for the owner, occupants, and city at large

Participation consent: although there is no charge to submit to the awards program, all winning projects must be CVU Organizational Members and commit to present at the annual VU Summit and attend the Awards Ceremony & Dinner. Note that Best Tall Building Award requires both the owner/developer and design architect to present.

Right to usage of materials: all submitted text, images, and drawings may be published in CVU print and digital publications. Required images and drawings may include:

• Drawings: Floor Plans, Sections, and Elevations
• Images: Key Exterior Views, Exterior Details, Interior Views, and any additional information.

Further information on Participation Consent & Rights to Usage of Materials can be found on the official submission form.