Tall Trends of 2016

The study has been published as a PDF, but a visit to CTBUH's website is recommended since the charts and descriptions are interactive. The illustration below highlights some of the notable findings, including the continued dominance of China (66% of 200 m+ towers were built there last year) and the generally insatiable desire to build taller (2016 had the most 200 m+ towers of any year).

Although the CTBUH Year in Review takes a quantitative approach to last year's output, we're more drawn to the quality of the towers; in this regard, 2016 was a very good year. A few notable designs are highlighted here with photographs: Ole Scheeren's mixed-use, pixelated MahaNakhon tower in Bangkok; WOHA's Oasia Downtown Hotel in Singapore, where its red screen is quickly being taken over by green plantings; and LBR&A's Torre Reforma office building in Mexico City, whose triangular plan features solid walls on two sides and glass walls with diagonal bracing on its long third side.