The Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU) is the global authority on tall buildings and high-density urban development, operating under the mission statement: "We are shaping the future of rising cities and sharing the knowledge to build them. Together, we are building tall better." The organization was previously known as the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), and continues to operate under that legal name while rebranding its public identity to reflect a broader focus on vertical urbanism as a discipline, not just individual skyscrapers.

CVU serves as a knowledge hub and professional network for the tall-building industry. It maintains the Skyscraper Center, an authoritative database covering 40,000+ tall buildings from across the globe, alongside original research, data studies, and trend forecasts on topics like density, sustainability, and urban resilience. Recent published work includes regional activity series, computational design research, and city-specific case studies examining how rapid vertical growth intersects with climate and housing pressures.

The organization runs a robust events and recognition program, including its flagship VU Summit — described as the premier global gathering of leaders advancing the future of cities through tall buildings and vertical urbanism — plus an Awards Program and a "Buildings of Distinction" certification. Membership offers access to research, networking, and early insights, with the organization stating that membership isn't just access, but impact — helping shape dialogue on vertical urbanism and connect with leaders redefining cities.

Its member base spans the industry's biggest names — architecture and engineering firms (SOM, KPF, Arup, AECOM), elevator manufacturers (Otis, KONE, Schindler, TK Elevator), universities, developers, and construction firms, positioning CVU as the connective tissue for architects, engineers, planners, and policymakers working on the world's tallest and densest urban projects.