Sustainable Technologies and the Tall Building Emerging Trends and Future Challenges

As a major energy consumer, the tall building does not ordinarily conjure images of sustainable design. But a new generation of tall buildings is incorporating new developments in technology and design to produce smarter, energy-efficient buildings.

Tall buildings conceived as "vertical garden cities" can use urban space and resources more efficiently and, at the same time, create more user-friendly and habitable buildings. Consequently, future sustainable high-rise buildings will need to be even more energy-efficient and functionally diverse with emphasis on multi-functional tall buildings that consolidate living, working, retail, and leisure spaces into a single building. The relationship between tall buildings and their urban infrastructure must also be considered. Transportation systems, water and waste distribution, energy, and heating and cooling must be considered relative to the tall building and its impact on the city's physical resources and infrastructure in terms of sustainable design. Finally, concepts such as mega-structures and mega-buildings will need to be revised and allied with new building systems technology to meet the challenges of future sustainable tall buildings that are integrated with their urban habitats.