American Research Journal of Civil and Structural Engineering

Until recently, tall buildings have been viewed as mega-scale energy consumers with little regard for sustainable architecture. However, this is changing with a new generation of high-rise buildings that have been designed with energy conservation and sustainability as their principal criteria. Sustainable design is an effort to meet the requirements of the present without compromising the needs of future generations by encouraging the wise and prudent use of renewable resources, alternative strategies for energy production and conservation, environment-friendly design, and intelligent building technology. As a major energy consumer, the tall building does not ordinarily conjure images of sustainable design. But a new generation of tall buildings is incorporating new developments in technology and design to produce smarter, energy-efficient buildings. Consequently, future sustainable high-rise buildings will need to be even more energy-efficient and functionally diverse with emphasis on multi-functional tall buildings that consolidate living, working, retail, and leisure spaces into a single building. Finally, concepts such as mega-structures and mega-buildings will need to be revised and allied with new building systems technology to meet the challenges of future sustainable tall buildings that are integrated with their urban habitats; and hence, it is considered well-timed and appropriate to discuss the emerging trends in architectural designing of High-Rise and High-Performance building looking into its long-term resilience and environmental as well as economic sustainability angles. The article reviews the main trends of modern high-rise construction considered a number of architectural, engineering and technological, economic and image factors that have influenced the intensification of construction of high-rise buildings in the 21st century. The key factors of modern high-rise construction are identified, which are associated with an attractive image component with the ability to translate current views on architecture and innovations in construction technologies as well as exploring new opportunity to serve as an effective driver in the development of a complex of national economy sectors with the achievement of a multiplicative effect. The issue of economic expediency of construction of high-rise buildings, including those with only a residential function, has been adequately addressed in this paper.