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IIT Architecture

The interior of S. R. Crown Hall features an exhibition of architectural posters displayed on wooden panels. Several people are seated on folding chairs facing the exhibits, while one person stands observing closely.

Overview

The Master of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism is a collaboration between the Illinois Institute of Technology and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), and is the world’s first multidisciplinary advanced degree focused specifically on the high-rise, and the role of urban density in future cities. In an age of rapid urbanization, the tall building—more than any other building type—holds the key to sustainable existence for humanity on this planet. This design and research based program brings together students and professionals from architecture, real estate, engineering, urban design, construction management, business, finance, and other backgrounds, in a unique learning environment built to foster interdisciplinary research and experience.

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A group of people stand in a modern architectural setting with patterned walls and sleek buildings. One person is taking a photo, while others engage in conversation, some holding bags and wearing casual attire. The scene is sunny and bright.
A group of eight people smiling and taking a selfie outdoors. They are standing in front of unique, geometric-patterned buildings under a clear sky. The group appears diverse and cheerful, with a mix of casual outfits and sunglasses.

Curriculum

The three required courses (Advanced Studios, Talking TALL, and Tall Building Technologies) encourage students to apply architectural and urban principles to the design of sustainable high-rise buildings and future cities; implement the use of appropriate technologies and systems in approaches to conceptual and technical high-rise building/urban design and: conduct research on the physical, environmental, and social sustainability aspects of urban density and high-rise buildings, at human, architectural, and urban scales.

Fall

Spring

Required Courses

An overview of the full curriculum of the Master of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism program.

Fall Spring
(3 Credits) Approved Elective
(3 Credits) Approved Elective
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Faculty

The Masters of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism (M.TBVU) program is led by faculty and advisory panel members who are prominent experts in the industry. These individuals are committed to help develop a new generation of expertise in a subject they are immensely knowledgeable and passionate about.

Program Sequence

The Tall Building Design Studio I is the core of the M.TBVU design pathway. Students work individually or collaboratively in small groups on real-world design problems and sites of some complexity, either on an urban scale or in a single tall building.

Tall Building Technologies I is a lecture/seminar course that provides students with an understanding of the technologies that enable tall buildings and dense future cities, especially cutting-edge and emerging technologies. The technologies examined embrace both the building and urban (infrastructure) scales.

Talking Tall I is focused on the “softer” side of tall buildings and cities, and investigates the physical, environmental, and social sustainability implications of urban density and tall buildings at human, architectural, and urban scales.

Architectural sectional drawing of a multistory building. The diagram details various floors, including a ceremonial hall, research spaces, and an observatory. Greenery is depicted on several levels, indicating outdoor or garden areas.

Scott Duncan, Jason Fisher, Jorge Rovira, Cheok Chun Chong

Flowchart illustrating AI model output for architectural designs based on concepts like Prospect, Refuge, Mystery, and Complexity and Order. Includes sketches, models, and example interiors, organized in levels A, B, and C.

Scott Duncan, Jason Fisher, Jorge Rovira, Cheok Chun Chong

A group of people seated indoors, facing a presenter near large architectural posters. The setting is a spacious, bright room with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a view of trees and a building outside.

Electives

The program includes six credits of elective courses that cover technical fields both in and outside of the College to provide insight on specific skills and concepts. The following courses are approved to count as electives for the M.TBVU degree.

Fall

Spring

Architecture

A overview of the elective courses for the Master of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism program and the semester in which they are typically offered.

Fall Spring

Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering

A overview of the elective courses for the Master of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism program and the semester in which they are typically offered.

Fall Spring

Business

A overview of the elective courses for the Master of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism program and the semester in which they are typically offered.

Fall Spring

Law

A overview of the elective courses for the Master of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism program and the semester in which they are typically offered.

Fall Spring
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Advising

Advising provides students with academic guidance as they fulfill their degree program requirements. All degree seeking graduate students will be assigned a primary academic advisor by the College of Architecture. New graduate students will be required to meet with their primary advisor prior to registering for the following semester. 

For more infor­ma­tion please vis­it Stu­dent Resources.

The GP Graduate (Program) Advising Hold becomes active before the next semester of registration opens for the following:

  • Co-Terminal students in the first semester of graduate co-terminal enrollment
  • Traditional masters students at 9 earned or enrolled credits
  • Doctoral students at 18 earned or enrolled credits

The GP Hold prevents registration before the following semester until lifted by the advisor. The mandatory advising session is required for the student to clear the advising registration hold

Students will be notified by their primary advisor how to best schedule their required advising appointment. In general, students may begin scheduling their advising appointments two weeks prior to the first day of registration for the following semester.

At this advising appointment, students will receive a Registration PIN (also referred to as an alternate PIN) and the registration block, which is placed on a student’s record by the Graduate College, will be removed. This will be the only required advising appointment for Graduate students. After their first semester, Graduate student Registration PINs will be visible in the Illinois Tech Portal (under IIT Personal ID numbers).

All graduate students registering for research courses numbered 591, 594, 597, and 691 must receive approval from their faculty advisor, in the form of an electronic permit, before registration.

People are viewing posters and displays at an indoor exhibition. Various architectural designs and projects are showcased on wooden panels in a well-lit room with large windows.

Student Work

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Davis Housman

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Davis Housman

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Cheok Chun Chong

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Cheok Chun Chong

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Joshua Krull

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Joshua Krull

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Allison Drooger

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Allison Drooger

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Davis Housman

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Davis Housman

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Jusang Lee

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Jusang Lee

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Omair Godil

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Omair Godil

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Alec Dunbar

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Alec Dunbar