The magazine includes a research paper authored by KPF Principal Jeffrey Kenoff and KPF Director of Design Technology Luc Wilson, as well as a project spotlight on the KPF-designed Waterline.
Published by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the first Vertical Urbanism issue of 2025 is organized around the theme of change. Each piece discusses new developments in both architectural methodologies and values, reflecting how one quarter of a century has evolved tall building design and positing ways forward.
Titled “Advanced Computational Modeling and Data-Driven Design,” Jeff and Luc’s research paper examines the 21st-century boom in technological development that has taken the architecture and urban design world by storm. The 12-page piece incorporates several KPF projects as case studies for the role of computational modeling in performance-informed design, including Westlake 66, Huamu Lot 10 — The Summit, T. Rowe Price Headquarters, and One Vanderbilt. Combining Jeff’s design expertise with Luc’s computational skills, the paper provides a detailed guide for how to implement cutting-edge computational modeling techniques to optimize sustainability metrics, façade responsiveness, public realm performance, and more.
The “Vertical Urbanism Today” section takes a global survey of 25 unbuilt or under construction projects, revealing how architects and cities are adapting vertical form to meet the demands of climate, culture, and community. Featured prominently on a two-page spread, the KPF-designed Waterline exemplifies many of the ideas discussed throughout the issue. The development integrates hotel, office, residential, and retail programs into a single sculptural volume set at the edge of Austin’s downtown, interacting with the public realm through a multi-level ground plane known as the paseo.
Read the full issue of Vertical Urbanism here.