CTBUH names Steven Holl’s Linked Hybrid ‘Best Tall Building Overall – 2009’
CHICAGO — The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) named Linked Hybrid by Steven Holl Architects as the “Best Tall Building Overall” for 2009.

With its rich pallet, appropriate scale, and consistency in architectural language, Linked Hybrid adds a level of high-quality architecture to the city of Beijing. Working well above the level of purely sculptural architecture, the project embodies, on an urbanistic scale, where the future of tall buildings and urban cities is heading, creating architecture that does not isolate, but rather connects both on the ground level and in the sky. This creates both a unique ground floor that acts as an oasis in the density of Beijing, and a real multi-use zone of connected urbanism in the sky.

The project incorporates numerous sustainable design features, but really goes far beyond its geothermal and water recycling to take on the much broader issue of social-urban sustainability itself. Its mix of residential and retail, cinemas and kindergartens, hotels and art galleries, swimming pools and parks — all within a single complex — is remarkable. The idea to weave these facilities into the complex not only at the ground level but throughout the section of the building is fantastic. As described by CTBUH Executive Director and 2009 Jury panel member Antony Wood, “It is only in the intensification of our cities and the inclusion of mixed urban-public facilities in the sky that the true vibrant, dense cities of the future can be realized. The Linked Hybrid building, perhaps more than any other built project, really does point the way to that future.”

Accepting the award on behalf of the Linked Hybrid project team was design architect Steven Holl. Joining Holl on stage was Li Hu, project manager in Beijing from Steven Holl Architects; Congzhen Xiao, from structural engineer on the project, China Academy of Building Research; and Stefan Holst, from environmental consultants, Transsolar ClimageEngineering.

The Council issues Best Tall Building Awards annually to give recognition to projects that have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the urban environment, and that achieve sustainability at the highest and broadest level. It issues four regional awards each year (Americas, Asia & Australasia, Europe, and Middle East & Africa). In addition, from the four regional awards, one project is awarded the honor of Best Tall Building Overall.

The Council announced its four 2009 regional winners earlier this year: Manitoba Hydro Place for Americas, Linked Hybrid for Asia & Australasia, The Broadgate Tower for Europe, and Tornado Tower for Middle East & Africa. Linked Hybrid was chosen from these four regional winners and announced as the Best Tall Building Overall for 2009.

The Award was bestowed at the 8th Annual Awards Dinner and Ceremony held Oct. 22 at the Illinois Institute of Technology campus in Chicago. Following brief presentations by each of the regional winners, the CTBUH Awards Committee Chairman, Gordon Gill of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, announced the overall winner to be Linked Hybrid, describing the project as, “rich in thought, both programmatically and architecturally, presenting an advanced typology for dense urban living.”

PCI sustainability chair discusses LCA research
ATLANTA — Jim Lewis, chairman of the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute’s (PCI) Sustainability Council, recently participated in a panel discussion about life-cycle assessments (LCAs) at a sustainability workshop in Atlanta. The workshop was developed by ASTM International Committee E60, Sustainability, in response to strong demand from ASTM committee members. “There is a demand for factual data out there related to sustainability. LCA is one of the best tools we currently have to quantify environmental impact,” said Lewis.

Speakers included Michael Deru of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.; Paul Firth of UL Environment; Rita Schenck, executive director at the Institute for Environmental Research and Education; Wayne Trusty, president of ATHENA Sustainable Materials Institute; and others.

During the second half of the workshop, panelists discussed the use of LCA in product development, LCA for product selection, and LCA incorporation into standards.

The PCI is performing an LCA for precast concrete. The research began in the fall of 2008. The two-phase project should be completed sometime in 2010.

ICC elects officers, directors
Washington, D.C. — Members of the International Code Council elected Clark County, Nev., Director of Development Services Ron Lynn as president; Decatur, Ala., Building Director Jimmy Brothers as vice president; and Chesterfield County, Va., Building Official Bill Dupler as secretary/treasurer. Adolf Zubia, Las Cruces, N.M., fire chief, will serve as immediate past president. Ron Hoover, director of the Marion, Iowa, Building Inspection Department and Alburnett fire chief, and Tina Rakes, Baldwin City, Kan., building official, were elected to three-year terms as directors.

“Our future must include enhancing the cooperation between the fire and building disciplines,” Lynn said in his inaugural address.