International High-Rise Award

31 High-Rise Projects nominated globally

The buildings nominated for the International High-Rise Award 2024/25 have now been announced: they have been selected from more than 1,000 new high-rises worldwide dating from the past two years. In autumn, the five finalists will be announced. Then, on November 12, 2024, the winner of the International High-Rise Award will be presented in the Paulskirche (St. Paul’s Church) in Frankfurt/Main.

The DAM’s research this year confirmed the ongoing trend seen in favor of mixed-use high-rises, a form of tall building that since 2014 has repeatedly been in evidence among the IHA finalists. What were in the past special features such as buildings completely clad in greenery or the construction of clusters of towers have long since become part of the new normal. As a result of the lack of suitable construction sites and the growing eco-awareness, the focus in high-rise construction is increasingly on the use of existing buildings.

The nominees at a glance

While the majority of tall buildings continue to be erected in China, followed by the USA, at present Australia and Singapore have emerged as exciting hubs of high-rise architecture. In the final instance, projects from 13 different countries were nominated for the long list of the International High-Rise Award 2024/25, which consisted of 31 high-rises from five continents.

Geographical distribution of the nominees:

• Asia: 8x China, 2x Japan, 2x Singapore, 2x United Arab Emirates
• Australia: 2x
• Europe: 2x Netherlands, 1x France, 1x Austria, 1x Poland, 1x Sweden
• North America: 6x USA, 2x Canada
• South America: 1x Ecuador

Committed to architecture since 2004

The IHA is the top prize for highrise buildings worldwide. Since 2004, it has been awarded every two years by the City of Frankfurt am Main at a ceremony in the Paulskirche. The award is promoted, curated and organised in cooperative partnership with the Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM, German Architecture Museum) and Deka. Since its launch at the beginning of the millennium, it has accompanied the ongoing global boom in high-rise construction, a prime architectural discipline. 

The goal of the IHA is to create public awareness of the importance of architecture. Responsible planning and a design that prioritises social and environmental sustainability criteria are important factors for the IHA. As co-founder of the award, Deka therefore supports the role of the winning buildings as models for construction in the future.

The first high-rise award worldwide

The IHA is awarded every two years for a high-rise building that combines exemplary sustainability, external design and internal spatial qualities as well as social and urban planning aspects to create an exemplary design. Further criteria are innovative construction technology and economic efficiency. The IHA is recognised as one of the world's most important architecture awards for high-rise buildings. It is aimed at architects and clients whose buildings are at least 100 metres high and have been completed in the last two years.

The prize is awarded jointly to the architect and the client. They receive a sculpture by the renowned artist Thomas Demand and prize money totalling 50,000 euros, which the winners donate to institutions in the field of architecture and urban development.

Previous recipients of the IHA:

• 2020 Norra Tornen, Stockholm, Sweden, Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
• 2018 „Torre Reforma“ in Mexiko City (Mexico), BR&A Arquitectos as architects and developer.
• 2016 „VIA 57 West“ in New York City (USA), BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group and The Durst Organization as the developer.
• 2014 „Bosco Verticale“ in Milan (Italy), Boeri Studio and Hines Italia as the developer.
• 2012 “1 Blight Street” in Sydney (Australia), a cooperation between ingenhoven architects in Düsseldorf and Architectus in Sydney with DEXUS Property Group; DEXUS Wholesale Property Fund, Cbus Property as the developers.
• 2010 “The Met” in Bangkok (Thailand), WOHA in Singapore and Pebble Bay, Thailand as the developer.
• 2008 “Hearst Building” in New York (USA), Foster + Partners and Hearst Corporation as the developer.
• 2006 “Torre Agbar” in Barcelona (Spain), Ateliers Jean Nouvel and Layetana as the developer.
• 2004 “De Hoftoren” in The Hague (The Netherlands), Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (International) PA, London and ING Vastgoed as the developer.