As developers around the world seek to steal the coveted title of "World's Tallest Building", Carl Bialik looks at what defines a building, and who gets to decide.
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, based in Chigago, is generally recognized as the arbiter of height when it comes to the worldwide skyscraper competition. Although they set the categories and definitions by which buildings are judged against each other, "The answers aren't always clear in the race to the top, as shown this
week by the news that One World Trade Center, the tower being erected at
New York's Ground Zero, may not qualify as the Western Hemisphere's
tallest building because plans to encase a rooftop antenna in fiberglass
and steel have been scrapped."
Disputes have arisen over judgments on what constitutes a building's base and the difference between a spire and an antenna. "Antony Wood, CTBUH executive director, says it is up to users of the
council's data to decide on record holders. 'We don't choose the
tallest, the numbers do,' he says, adding, 'We have no axes to grind, or
bias. Our only goals are to be accurate and consistent.'"
FULL STORY: Steps Unclear in Builders' Race to Top
Promoting Infill Development for a Denser Houston
An advocacy group is calling for ‘sustainable, vertical’ mixed-use urbanism in the famously sprawling city.
When Architects Dress Like Buildings
The 1931 Beaux-Arts Ball immortalized the architects who participated by dressed like famous buildings. Will a 2019 version of the event achieve a contemporary version of the same fame?
The 50 Most Influential Tall Buildings of the Last 50 Years
Sure to stir controversy, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has compiled a list of the 50 most influential tall buildings of the last 50 years.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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