(news source: CTBUH)

The CTBUH China Office / Asia Headquarters officially launched March 18 at the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) at Tongji University, Shanghai. The eventful day saw the inaugural board meeting of the China Office / Asia Headquarters, with key representatives from the Office’s host, CAUP at Tongji University, and six Founding Sponsors in attendance. It concluded with a spirited reception in the main atrium of the CAUP, which included an unveiling of a special plaque commemorating the role of the Founding Sponsors and host Tongji University, attended by 160 people, including members of the press.  

The board meeting was intended to set the priorities of the Office for the coming two years, which have been kindly funded by contributions from each Founding Sponsor. As CTBUH Chairman David Malott, Executive Director Antony Wood, and China Office Director Daniel Safarik explained to the board members, this meeting was a major opportunity to decide where resources should be focused during this initial period.

Inaugural board meeting of the China Office / Asia Headquarters at Tongji University, with key representatives from the Office’s host, CAUP at Tongji University, and six Founding Sponsors in attendance.

The board resolved that one of the major subjects up for discussion, a China-based awards program, would be an excellent use of resources, as it would provide exposure to the many companies involved in the world’s largest tall building market, as well as for the CTBUH. In theory, the China awards program would feed into the main Best Tall Buildings Worldwide program already run by the CTBUH, but would have some of its own unique recognitions and programming, including a separate ceremony in China, from which winners would pass into the worldwide program as part of the Asia & Australasia region.

Board Meeting attendees (left to right): Eric Lee, Head of Operations, Property and Asset Management, JLL; Murilo Bonilha, Research Center China, General Manager, United Technologies; Antony Wood, Executive Director, CTBUH; Daniel Safarik, China Office Director, CTBUH; David Malott, Chairman/Principal, CTBUH/KPF; JianPing Gu, Director and General Manager, Shanghai Tower Construction & Development; Kitty Wu, Managing Director, Asset Management, Ping An Real Estate; Junjie Zhang, President, ECADI; Kui Zhuang, Vice President, CCDI; and Professor Zhendong Wang, Design Research Professor, Tongji University

The reception featured the sonorous sounds of the traditional gujeng, the pleasant burble of enthusiastic conversation, and a short speaking session that recognized the Founding Sponsor representatives and unveiled the official plaque. If the turnout and the energy of both the board meeting and reception are any indication of what’s to come, the future of the CTBUH in China is bright