CTBUH 50th Anniversary: Moments in History #6

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The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of CTBUH, an important occasion that will be commemorated throughout the year via a series of special events and outputs, culminating with the 10th World Congress in Chicago, 28 October–2 November, on the theme “50 Forward | 50 Back.” Join us each month as we examine key moments in the Council’s rich history, which track the progression and ascendance of both the organization and dense vertical urbanism on a global scale.
 

Moment #6: First CTBUH Technical Guide Released

The Building Safety Enhancement Guidebook and current CTBUH Technical Guides.

The Council has always been a critical source for the collation and dissemination of information about tall buildings. While a number of subject-specific monographs had been published throughout its history, it was not until 2002, however, that the first CTBUH Technical Guide emerged. Intended as a quick reference for both practitioners and academics, the Technical Guide series has proven an ideal publication venue for the specialized expertise of CTBUH members, and a useful tool set, both for those within and outside the organization, who seek greater knowledge about best practices for designing and operating tall buildings.
At a modest 32 pages, consisting of 54 paragraph-long recommendations in five categories, the Building Safety Enhancement Guidebook is quite slim compared to some of the more recent titles, which can run several hundred pages. But the Guidebook is notable, both for the contemporary urgency of its subject matter, less than a year after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001; and the philosophy it established, which has been carried through into the most recent editions. As the introduction states, “In promoting performance-based design, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is not advocating any specific building code modifications. Instead, there are numerous opportunities to enhance the safety and security of our built environment through thoughtful consideration of specific buildings.” This philosophy and topic have come full circle: a completely new and significantly expanded Tall Building Security, Resilience & Protective Design guide will be available by the time of the 2019 World Congress.