The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat released its annual tall buildings industry predications last month. They include a novel firefighting method that uses jetpacks and simulators to battle blazes high in the sky; a shift from luxury condo towers to high-rise apartments; a rare concrete-clad high-rise in Mexico City that shuns the all-glass trend; and a debate over aviation height regulations.
Here’s a sampling of CTBUH’s top predictions for 2016 (text courtesy CTBUH; see the full list):
Dubai will fight fires with jetpacks. Dubai will potentially revolutionize its high-rise firefighting scheme when 20 jetpacks and two simulators are delivered to the city’s Civil Defense Authority. The jetpacks will be able to operate for up to 30 minutes at ranges between 30 and 50 kilometers and altitudes of up to 900 meters. While we aren’t hoping for any fires, it will be interesting to see if this new technology performs as intended. Many in the industry remain skeptical.
Torre Reforma marks shift away from a generation of tall buildings with all-glass façades. When Mexico City’s Torre Reforma completes in early 2016, it will not only be Mexico’s tallest building, but will signal a major departure from conventional façade design. Its exterior eschews the typical glass curtain wall in favor of a structural concrete exterior on two sides, reducing the cooling load for the building by mitigating overall sun exposure. As tall buildings continue to embrace energy efficient design, the all-glass façade may indeed be losing its luster.
Torre Reforma, Mexico City. Rendering courtesy torrereforma.com
Developers will diversify residential offerings as global luxury markets saturate. The boom in luxury condominium towers is likely to slow down in 2016 as many of the biggest markets such as London, New York, and Dubai near saturation points. In New York, “Billionaires’ Row” has seen no major new proposals while some under-construction buildings have begun reconfiguring units to create more affordable condos. As the luxury boom slows, expect the rental apartment sector to gain steam with perhaps more emphasis on affordability.
Cities to debate impact of aviation height regulations on tall buildings. Tall buildings have always caused headaches for aviation authorities, who are tasked with determining safe flight paths for takeoffs and landings near major cities. In 2015, a number of major projects in the United States, Australia, and China among other countries hinged on the approval of federal aviation authorities. As several of these disputes come to a head in the coming year, cities will begin to question the impact of these national dictums.
MahaNakhon signifies Bangkok’s global reemergence. At 314 meters, the pixilated MahaNakhon tower will be the tallest building in Bangkok and Thailand when it completes in June, after topping out in April 2015. The 75-story residential and hotel tower seeks to transform its surrounding neighborhood, interplaying with a nearby mixed-use building that establishes an inviting public atmosphere at ground level. As Bangkok’s premier development, it is poised to announce the cities presence on a global stage as investment continues to pour into Thailand’s capital.
Full-scale testing will begin on MULTI elevators after completion of Rottweil Test Tower. With the completion of the 246-meter Rottweil Test Tower—one of the tallest structures in Germany—ThyssenKrupp will begin full-scale testing on its MULTI elevator technology. The transformative vertical transportation technology is set to redefine the way that elevator systems are implemented in skyscrapers. Using magnetic technology, elevators will be placed on tracks that can run vertically, horizontally, and diagonally. A 1:3 scale model of MULTI was unveiled in Spain in November 2015.
Related Stories
| Feb 14, 2012
Thornton Tomasetti names Al Hashimi vice president for its Middle East Operations
Al Hashimi is joining the company to help expand Thornton Tomasetti’s business in the region and support clients locally.
| Feb 8, 2012
World’s tallest solar PV-installation
The solar array is at the elevation of 737 feet, making the building the tallest in the world with a solar PV-installation on its roof.
| Jan 30, 2012
Hollister Construction Services to renovate 30 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, N.J.
Owner Onyx Equities hires firm to oversee comprehensive upgrades of office building.
| Jan 16, 2012
Mid-Continent Tower wins 25 Year Award from AIA Eastern Oklahoma
Designed by Dewberry, iconic tower defines Tulsa’s skyline.
| Jan 4, 2012
Shawmut Design & Construction awarded dorm renovations at Brown University
Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2012, and will be completed by December 2012.
| Jan 3, 2012
Rental Renaissance, The Rebirth of the Apartment Market
Across much of the U.S., apartment rents are rising, vacancy rates are falling. In just about every major urban area, new multifamily rental projects and major renovations are coming online. It may be too soon to pronounce the rental market fully recovered, but the trend is promising.
| Dec 27, 2011
Ground broken for adaptive reuse project
Located on the Garden State Parkway, the master-planned project initially includes the conversion of a 114-year-old, 365,000-square-foot, six-story warehouse building into 361 loft-style apartments, and the creation of a three-level parking facility.
| Dec 21, 2011
BBI key to Philly high-rise renovation
The 200,000 sf building was recently outfitted with a new HVAC system and a state-of-the-art window retrofitting system.
| Dec 19, 2011
Chicago’s Aqua Tower wins international design award
Aqua was named both regional and international winner of the International Property Award as Best Residential High-Rise Development.
| Dec 14, 2011
Belfer Research Building tops out in New York
Hundreds of construction trades people celebrate reaching the top of concrete structure for facility that will accelerate treatments and cures at world-renowned institution.
