The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) recently named the David Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago the world’s best tall building. The structure, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, was also recognized as the 2022 Best Tall Building under 100 meters and the 2022 Best Tall Building in the Americas.
The 10-story David Rubenstein Forum’s design incorporates six stacked and rotated blocks that jut out from a central spine. It also provides a strong connection to the natural environment thanks to its floor-to-ceiling glass façade, green roofs, rain gardens and landscaping.
“With the United Nations projecting nearly 70% urbanization by 2050, the demand is growing for healthier, more sustainable and socially just urban environments — tall buildings and other smart, resilient approaches to population density are an integral part of the solution,” says CTBUH CEO Javier Quintana de Una.
The LEED-Gold certified Forum integrates bird-safe technology into its glass façade and was designed to bring ample light into all meeting rooms. The curtainwall contractor, Glass Solutions Inc., provided 31,500 square feet of its UCW 3400 Series 2-sided captured unitized curtainwall system for the project.
“It is no longer enough to simply build tall,” says Quintana de Una. “We must approach density in ways that are meaningful, creative, innovative, carbon neutral and affordable. Only then can we support balanced and healthy living, working and civic and social engagement. The David Rubenstein Forum, and all of this year’s Award of Excellence winners, demonstrate that it is possible to consider the built environment — transportation, public and cultural institutions, green spaces, commercial enterprises and other crucial infrastructure — holistically and adapt it broadly and equitably for positive, sustainable outcomes.”
