According to the United Nations, 54% of the world’s population reside in cities and urban areas today. By 2050, this number is expected to grow to 68%, adding nearly 2.5 billion new city residents. Every which way, cities are at the front lines of our global climate crisis. Is the answer to build more and to build taller? Is it enough to do ‘less bad’ or should we aim higher? How do we shift the rooted systems within our industry so that we are giving back more than we take? We will explore the ways in which we can leverage nature-based solutions and transdisciplinary thinking to create a roadmap to a regenerative future.

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This workshop brings together industry experts to explore the latest trends and research in materials and embodied carbon, addressing the crucial “new or renew” question. Participants will delve into the variability of life cycle assessments across different regions, examine case studies on improving new construction, gain insights into the challenges and opportunities for renewing existing building stock, and have plenty of time for discussion and debate on the increasingly complex world of carbon and materials.

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Picture a future where “whole life carbon” is the currency. What if in the future, buildings compete based on their long-term environmental impact? During this workshop, we will explore carbon pricing strategies as a means to incentivize a path towards fulfilling the UN Sustainability Goals. Through various viewpoints, we will uncover how carbon value and exceptional design can revolutionize high-rise. By exploring different perspectives, we aim to innovate with materials, building technologies, and assembly methods. Let’s shape this future currency!

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Organized by the CTBUH Life & Fire Safety Committee, this workshop will feature a mix of presentations from international fire experts on various evacuation strategies & risks, followed by interactive workshop discussions. This will include local and national legislation, guidance and recent updates. It will engage practitioners in the many and varied aspects to consider in the design and management of fire evacuation, including insurance and valuation of real estate considerations.

International law firm and leading real estate and construction specialists Charles Russell Speechlys will be hosting an interactive two-part workshop. Part one will delve into the rapidly evolving landscape of ESG and its impact on the responsibilities of those working in the industry. Led by leading GCs in the sector, part two will introduce the CTBUH In-House Counsel Assembly, a new dedicated network of leading legal professionals from across the globe who work in in-house legal teams for companies engaged with the built environment sector. Topics discussed will include how the in-house role has evolved over time, operational trends (including technology/AI), and the pressure points teams are facing across the built environment sector. 

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Recent advances in volumetric off-site construction present an encouraging prospect for addressing some of the most pernicious challenges of the affordable-housing crisis. Faster, cleaner, more economical, and less-labor-intensive construction techniques are now creating a new legacy for skylines across the globe. Join this workshop for a full briefing on and insights into implementing this technique in your community. 

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This workshop will give attendees the opportunity to spearhead fresh, interdisciplinary thinking about density, specifically addressing the need to reconcile tall buildings, economically viable high-density housing, and the “new or renew” dilemma, in the face of new carbon-footprint reduction mandates and aging building stock. It offers a special opportunity to engage with the City Advocacy Forum, the new CTBUH initiative dedicated to fostering dialogue, and to develop and advocate innovative practices to address the biggest challenges facing cities. The third edition of the Forum will bring together planning leaders from London, New York, Paris, and Singapore, for lively dialogue with each other and with attendees. 

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Retrofitting density is not just a technical consulting exercise, but involves a careful balance of public and community priorities and innovative development models. Our workshop will address these challenges with contrasting perspectives and diverse approaches from outside the world’s most dense global cities, including Detroit Future City, Abu Dhabi Plan Capital, and Semarang (UKPACT).

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For many years, the concept of a “net-zero” high-rise building was a distant dream. Today’s technologies for tracking and controlling the carbon impact of the materials we use, and the operational decisions we make, have brought the dream much closer to reality. In this workshop, learn how the optimization of practices, technologies, and materials will advance practitioners and their projects towards this key goal. 

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How can we design, develop and operate smart cities to neutralize our carbon impact?

This workshop uses best-practice examples, including WOHA designed Punggol Digital District in Singapore, to spark vigorous discussions on design decisions in energy, integrated infrastructure and urban mobility, including the industry’s embrace of mass timber.

Learn about how open digital platforms can power smart city solutions and optimize resources through artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Industry specialists are invited to explore how smart, sustainable and inclusive urban environments can transform the way we work, live, learn and play.

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Retrofitting and regenerating tall buildings can involve significant structural engineering challenges. From improving the façade thermal performance while providing access to natural light, to reducing the building’s energy consumption while creating comfortable spaces, to understanding its structure and how it could be used or extended. These considerations need to be balanced against performance factors such as embodied and operational carbon, cost and constructability. Learn from leading experts about how to upgrade and enhance existing tall buildings, and hear about the latest technological developments.

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The façade is an important component in building construction, playing a significant role in the “new or renew?” debate. Many older buildings being considered for repositioning feature outdated curtain walls with single-pane glass and inadequate energy performance. Refurbishing these facades is essential not only to enhance energy efficiency and reduce operational costs but also to improve the overall performance and aesthetic appeal of the building.

This workshop brings together leading experts to discuss the comprehensive impact of façade design decisions when recladding tall buildings. Topics will include the financial, environmental, and performance benefits of upgrading facades, addressing the critical need to modernize these structures to meet standards and sustainability goals.

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Urban mobility is a multifaceted undertaking that influences each step we take, from doorstep to doorstep, across transportation modes, and moderated through the lens of smart technologies—on handheld devices, in the streets and railways, and in the elevator shafts that ultimately deliver us to our destinations. With demand for office space changing in many cities, as well as the nature of how we commute to and from those offices, a new and comprehensive approach must be taken to address an ever-evolving urban environment.

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