For the first time in the forty-three year history of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats (CTBUH), a practicing architect has been appointed as Chair of the organisation. At the CTBUH 2011 World Conference in Seoul last week, active Chairman Professor Sang Dae Kim of Korea University handed the Chairman’s gavel to Timothy Johnson, Partner at NBBJ.
The move comes at a significant moment for the body, as CTBUH Executive Director, Antony Wood explains: “2011 will see more buildings completed over 200m than ever before, with over 78 buildings set to open by the end of the year. Additionally, at the end of 2001, 71 years after the completion of the world’s first supertall (building 300m or more in height), there were a total of 25 such buildings existing internationally.
“A mere ten years later that number has more than doubled: there are now 55 supertalls existing around the world, with an additional 24 buildings set to open in the next two years. The need to continue and enhance the dialogue about the role tall buildings play in societies is thus more critical than ever before. Tim’s expertise in architecture and sustainable design will be crucial in helping us meet our goals.”
Johnson will hold the position of Chairman for the next two years until September 2013, continuing the successful work of Professor Kim in the development of academic programmes and research initiatives. Johnson brings extensive experience to the role, having sat as Chair of the CTBUH Awards Committee, been appointed a member of the organisation’s Board of Trustees in 2009, and a member of the Advisory Group and the Editorial Board of the CTBUH Journal. He will continue to lead the commercial design efforts of global architecture firm NBBJ and serve on the company’s Board of Directors.
