Repositioning Award

Formerly known as the Renovation Award, the Repositioning Award recognizes projects that have underwent significant post-occupancy upgrades that extend the life cycle of the building. This award gives an opportunity to highlight technical solutions that make extraordinary contributions to existing tall buildings through adaptive re-use, renovations, function changes, retrofits, recladdings, system upgrades, etc.

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 have completed building upgrades between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025 (36-month eligibility window) for consideration of this award. 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.
• The project that underwent upgrades must qualify as a building according to CVU Tall Building Criteria. If the upgrades have not been applied to any buildings at this time, please consider submitting for the Innovation Award.

All project data (Completion Date, Heights, Function, Structure Type, etc.) should follow CVU Tall Building Criteria, which can be found here.

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

• Basic Info: Name, Location, and Completion Schedule of Upgrades
• Project Data: Function, Material, Height, and Number of Floors

Written Description

The submission will ask the submitter to describe the following:

• The building’s history and driving factors that lead to an upgrade and/or renovation
• The main innovations utilized in the upgrades to the building
• How the innovations are efficient, cost-effective, and replicable to other projects
• How the building exhibits sustainable qualities at a broad level
• The project team involved in the implementation of this construction process

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 Repositioning 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.