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Toronto is hosting the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's (CTBUH) 2025 International Conference, running from October 6 to 9, under the theme From the Ground Up: Tall Buildings and City-Making. The global event will convene architects, planners, engineers, developers, and policymakers to explore how towers and urban systems shape liveability, sustainability, and growth. UrbanToronto is proud to be the official media sponsor for the event, and will be providing coverage throughout the week.
UrbanToronto recently spoke with Javier Quintana de Uña, CEO of CTBUH, about why Toronto was chosen and what participants can expect. “About five years ago, Toronto started to show speed,” noted Quintana de Uña. Maybe Toronto doesn’t have very tall buildings, but it was the speed, especially in the residential component, that stood out.”
Toronto’s selection reflects both its intensifying skyline and its evolving model of urban growth. “Toronto has its own prestige in how to handle urban space and transport,” noted Quintana de Uña, “and this idea of the polycentric city with clusters of municipalities is very interesting.”
Toronto’s growth is drawing international attention for its scale and its pace compared to other regions. While most North American cities have added towers gradually, Toronto’s surge has been a quick one, particularly in the residential sector. “Toronto fits in with the fastest-growing cities in China now, and that is a very unique thing,” shared Quintana de Uña.
“The success of a tall building is not strictly about the building itself,” he continued, “It’s very much about the community it creates and the way it connects with infrastructure and transport.” This understanding forms a central theme of the Toronto conference. Towers are no longer seen solely as feats of height or engineering, but as contributors to street life, transit integration, and public space.
Affordability remains a pressing concern for Toronto, but Quintana de Uña noted that the city is comparatively better positioned than many global peers. In places like Jakarta, Indonesia, rapid population growth has brought about tall building construction without easing the affordability gap. Toronto, by contrast, “is closer to bridging the affordability gap than many other fast-growing cities,” Quintana de Uña shared.
Across 150-plus sessions, the conference will pair Toronto-based developers and planners with counterparts from cities such as Hong Kong, New York, and the Netherlands. “For the first time, we’ve created what we call journeys,” Quintana de Uña said. “These are organized itineraries that help architects, planners, and engineers navigate presentations. All our conferences are places for exchange. We bring the best from around the world, but also create panels where global voices collaborate directly with locals.”
Beyond the sessions and conference portion, the event will turn Toronto into an open classroom through 17 off-site tours. Participants can explore projects such as SkyTower at Pinnacle One Yonge, One Delisle, 160 Front West, T3 Bayside, and Limberlost Place, along with walking tours of King West, the PATH system, and the Financial District’s skyscraper history. Tours will also venture to the towering new condos of Mississauga City Centre.
Discounted local rates, academic pricing, and student invitations are all part of CTBUH’s effort to ensure strong Canadian participation. “We see this conference as an opportunity to bring Canada as a whole, and of course Toronto, to another level within the Council,” expressed Quintana de Uña. Canadian architects, planners, and students are being offered a range of discounts and incentives to encourage attendance. A dedicated local rate has been introduced alongside international pricing, and reduced fees are available for academic staff and students, supported through a memorandum of understanding with Toronto Metropolitan University.
Organizers have also taken steps to address the currency gap between the U.S. dollar, in which fees are set, and the Canadian dollar. By adjusting pricing structures and working with local partners, CTBUH has aimed to minimize financial barriers so that participation is not limited to international delegates.
CTBUH intends for the Toronto conference to leave a legacy beyond its four days of programming. A full set of conference proceedings will be released, along with a curated compendium of papers tied to Toronto’s vertical growth experience. A shorter post-conference report will distill lessons and recommendations into accessible guidance.
“I am personally interested in showcasing Toronto as one of the really unique cases of development of vertical urbanization. I want Toronto to shine,” said Quintana de Uña.
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