Supertall

We are living in a new urban age and its most tangible expression is the supertall: megastructures that are dramatically bigger, higher, and more ambitious than any in history. In Supertall, TED Resident Stefan Alhimself an experienced architect who has worked on some of the largest buildings in the worldreveals the advancements in engineering, design, and data science that have led to this worldwide boom. Using examples from the past (the Empire State Building, St. Pauls Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower) and present (Dubais Burj Khalifa, Londons Shard, Shanghai Tower), he describes how the most remarkable skyscrapers have been designed and built. He explores the ingenious technological innovationsin cement, wind resistance, elevator design, and air-conditioningthat make the latest megastructures a reality. And he examines the risks of wealth inequality, carbon emissions, and contagion they yield while arguing for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environment for everyone.