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Boundary-pushing skyscrapers were recognized by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) in their annual awards showcase, the 2016 Tall Building Awards. A distinguished panel of experts from a broad range of disciplines had the difficult task of assessing 132 submissions in a variety of categories. This independent review of the most recent international projects aspires to "provide a more comprehensive and sophisticated view of these important structures, while advocating for improvements in every aspect of performance, including those that have the greatest positive impact on the individuals who use these buildings and the cities they inhabit."
The year's winners and finalists were praised on several fronts. Many projects incorporated design elements that responded to sustainability, seismicity, wind forces, mixed functionality, and a vibrant urban habitat in innovative ways. Others were recognized for their solutions to structural challenges and their "unrivalled iconicity." The award program was divided into five distinct categories: Best Tall Building Awards – Regional (Americas, Asia & Australasia, Europe, and Middle East & Africa), Urban Habitat Award, 10 Year Award, Innovation Award, and Performance Award.
The Best Tall Building Awards recognize developments that have advanced the realm of tall buildings and the urban environment while achieving sustainability at the highest level. Bjarke Ingels Group's VIA 57 WEST received the Americas award for its unique amalgamation of the European perimeter block and the Manhattan highrise. Described as a "new highrise typology," the jury praised the building for the compactness, density, and intimacy of its courtyard, and its ability to balance that with the expansive views and grandeur of a skyscraper. VIA 57 WEST squeaked out a win against 432 Park Avenue, The Tower at PNC Plaza, and Torre Reforma.
The Shanghai Tower emerged as the Asia & Australasia Winner. The Gensler-designed building, the second tallest in the world, received admiration for its twisting profile which yields a 24 percent savings in structural wind loading. The building's nine vertical zones and accompanying sky lobbies were heralded as incubators of community that provide exceptional support for the varied needs of tenants and visitors. The other finalists in the category were two Singapore projects in Beach Road and SkyHabitat, the Beijing Greenland Dawangjing Tower, Jiangxi Nanchang Greenland Central Plaza, and Seoul's Shinsegae International.
Jean Nouvel's The White Walls in Cyprus beat the European competition, as the residential-office tower's environmental aspects were singled out as strengths. The 18-storey building forms a remarkable silhouette in the Nicosia skyline with its perforated white concrete walls and protruding vegetation. The green coverage traps carbon dioxide, emits oxygen, and provides plenty of shade. Istanbul's Allianz Tower joined Milan's Allianz Tower, Frankfurt's ECB – European Central Bank, and Grattacielo Intesa Sanpaolo Torino as finalists.
The Cube in Beirut was granted the top prize in the Middle East & Africa category. The building features a design of displaced volumes to create outdoor spaces and enhanced views of the city. Orange Architects is behind the project and its 14 floor plans and 21 apartments. Its unorthodox structural composition of rotated girders permit unobstructed interior spaces. Iris Bay in Dubai was the other finalist in the category.
On a broader scale, the Wuhan Tiandi Development (Riverview Plaza) was granted the Urban Habitat Award. The formerly dilapidated district has been transformed into a compact urban community defined by a pedestrian-friendly and transit-oriented street grid. Towers of varying heights are placed in strategic spots to maximize views of the Yangzi River. They are surrounded by low- and mid-rise blocks, public spaces, and extensive landscaping. One Shenzhen Bay, SkyHabitat, SkyVille @ Dawson, and Toranomon Hills were also in contention for the award.
The Hearst Tower in New York City received the 10 Year Award, which recognizes building performance and value over a period of time. The 2006-built tower by Foster + Partners features a diagrid design placed atop a 1928 landmark office building. The project's environmental attributes — using recycled steel and 26 percent less energy than a typical building — have been upgraded as green technology has evolved over the past decade. A similar upgrading has taken place at Taipei 101, once the world's tallest building, which was granted the Performance Award for its environmental excellence.
Recognizing a special area of innovation within the design, construction, or operation of a project, the Innovation Award was given to the Pin-Fuse. The structural solution dissipates energy and achieves ductility during seismic events, which protects base structural materials from severe damage. Long-term benefits include a reduction in repair costs, enhanced sustainability, and increased resilience.
The CTBUH will also announce the winner of the Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award and the Fazlur R. Khan Lifetime Achievement Medal at a future date. All award winners will be honoured at the CTBUH 15th Annual Awards Symposium at Chicago's Illinois Institute of Technology on November 3. The four regional Best Tall Building winners have become nominees for the title of Best Tall Building Worldwide, which will be determined by the jury on the same night.
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| Related Companies: | Gensler, Walters Group |
