Tall Building Material Systems Host Room

Report by CTBUH Staff

Hosted By:

This room focused on the building components that are shaping high-rise design.

Over time, tall buildings have required an increasingly complex organization of materials and systems that work in harmony with one another to facilitate smooth building operations. The Tall Building Material Systems Room, hosted by Construction Specialties, focused on the building components that are transforming the design and construction of today’s high-rises. Speakers offered a variety of presentations on innovative building systems and technologies that promote occupant comfort and structural efficiency, including structural building materials, damping technologies, and energy efficient cooling systems.

Presentations throughout the first day focused on the application of programming and material systems on several case studies. The day’s first presentation took an in depth look at the Columbia University Medical and Graduate Education Building, which seeks to introduce a vertical campus to the Washington Heights neighborhood. Much like a horizontally-planned campus, this building seeks to foster seamless interaction between the university and the surrounding community.

Another presentation on day one by Robert McNamara, Founding Principal, McNamara/Salvia, focused on the force interpretation of damping, taking an in-depth look on the changing designs and uses of damping technology. Other day one presentations focused on seismic responses to concrete high-rises in Peru, high performance louvers in curtain wall systems, and energy efficient cooling strategies among other topics.

Day two of the Tall Building Material Systems Room continued with many of the themes laid out during the first day of lectures. Presentations focused on specific damping applications, uses of composite materials for high-rise buildings, and skyscraper structural systems in areas of high seismic activity.