CTBUH conference on future of tall buildings set for October 22-23, 2009 in Chicago

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) 2009 Conference, "Evolution of the Skyscraper: New Challenges in a World of Global Warming and Recession," will be held 22-23 October 2009 at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago.

Tall Buildings have enjoyed two decades of unprecedented development – built in greater number, height and geographical spread than at any time in history. That position is now under threat from the twin challenges of global climate change and a severe international economic recession. Many projects are being cancelled, put on hold or reducing their pace of moving forward as the recession tightens, and questions are increasingly being asked of the sustainable credentials of high rise

The world’s leading experts will convene at this conference to outline their reflections on the successes and excesses of the past two decades, and outline their thoughts on what tall buildings need to become. Will the skyscraper rise up to meet the challenges of the future?

Key speakers include

His Excellency Mohamed Ali Alabbar of Emaar (owner-developer of the tallest building in the world - the Burj Dubai);

Eric Trump of the Trump Organization, who will talk about Trump Tower;

Adrian Smith, who will talk about the upgrade to Sears/Willis Tower;

Richard Tomasetti of Thornton Tomasetti, who will talk about the Chicago Spire;

A senior representative of the Willis Group to talk about their motivations behind occupying the Sears/Willis building;

AIA President-elect Clark Manus of Heller Manus architects;

John Portman of Portman Holdings; and

Arthur Gensler of architecture firm Gensler.

For further information, see http://ctbuh2009.ctbuh.org