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Day 1 of the 2025 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) International Conference opened in Toronto with a major announcement that set the tone for the week ahead. The organization, long known as the CTBUH, unveiled its new name: the Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU). Under the theme From the Ground Up: Tall Buildings and City-Making, delegates from around the world gathered to explore how tall buildings contribute to social, cultural, and spatial networks that define urban life, with UrbanToronto on site as the event’s official media sponsor.
The rebrand, introduced by CTBUH CEO Javier Quintana de Uña, Chairman Shonn Mills, Vice-Chair Steve Watts, and Trustee Scott Duncan, signals a new era for the organization. Now operating as the Council on Vertical Urbanism, the group aims to broaden its mandate beyond tall buildings to encompass the full vertical ecosystem that shapes urban environments, from ground-level public spaces to the skyline. The refreshed identity reflects a commitment to guiding cities toward “responsible density,” bringing together design, infrastructure, and social frameworks to support more livable and resilient communities.
Though the name has changed, the organization’s mission remains rooted in its original purpose: to advance global knowledge and best practices in urban development. With offices in Chicago, Shanghai, Toronto, and Venice, CVU continues to convene architects, engineers, and policymakers to exchange data, recognize design excellence, and address shared urban challenges. This change positions the Council as a leader in tall building innovation, along with the future of vertical living.
The conference’s Opening Plenary, titled City Advocacy Forum: Toronto Edition, brought together civic leaders and international experts to examine how cities can manage growth while maintaining vibrant, people-focused environments. Moderated by Toronto’s Urban Design Director Emilia Floro, the session featured remarks from CVU CEO Javier Quintana and Chairman Shonn Mills before a panel discussion with City of Toronto planners James Parakh and Jason Thorne, alongside Moses Gates from New York’s Regional Plan Association, Victor Sheung Shing Tai from Hong Kong’s Housing Bureau, and Yahya Jan of NORR Group. Conversations centred on balancing density with livability, and how planning, design, and housing policy can collectively ensure that vertical growth contributes to inclusive and connected communities.
The afternoon program expanded across multiple tracks, offering a mix of awards presentations and technical workshops that highlighted innovation across disciplines. The Best Tall Building sessions showcased leading projects from Europe, Oceania, and the Americas, while the Innovation, Construction, and Systems Awards explored breakthroughs in facade design, structural engineering, and building technology. Concurrently, workshops tackled specialized topics ranging from Urban Affordability and Mass Timber Techniques, including insights from Toronto’s own Limberlost Place, to wind regulation, circular economy design, and emerging digital tools for smarter construction.
As sessions concluded, the day transitioned into a series of networking events that brought together delegates, sponsors, and industry leaders in a more informal setting. The Sponsor Appreciation Reception offered a chance to recognize the organizations supporting this year’s conference, followed by the Opening Networking Reception hosted at CIBC SQUARE.
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