Investigating the Impact of Building Ordinances and Zoning Codes on the Future of Major Cities: Supertall Buildings; Chicago and Dubai

Abstract

Building ordinances and zoning codes are instruments that tangibly and intangibly shape cities, control urban morphology, demography, and visual identity, and determine the inhabitants’ life quality, well-being, and comfort. Tall Building Ordinances (TBOs), in turn, control the vertical growth of cities and the development of tall buildings as distinctive actors in the built environment today. With the recent proliferation of developing supertall buildings in cities around the world, ordinances should offer flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness to the dynamic nature of emerging needs and technological potentials. This dissertation examines the emergence and upsurge of supertall buildings as a new typology in major metropolises. It investigates the interaction between the zoning codes and the construction of supertall buildings. The research implements cross-section surveys and longitudinal studies as the primary methodology, documenting some of the completed and underconstruction supertall buildings in two major cities: Chicago and Dubai, supported by structured interviews with architects, engineers, developers, and policymakers.