Editorial Policy

SkyscrapersInfo is an independent international publishing and research project dedicated primarily to skyscrapers, tall buildings, architectural landmarks, building rankings and major development projects. Its purpose is to make rigorous architectural and project information accessible to an international readership, and to publish original commentary, visual reporting and research that helps that readership understand the buildings, the contexts that produce them and the decisions that shape them.

The publication begins with the building itself and expands outward when relevant: from the building to its accessible functions and practical significance, then to the surrounding area, transport and viewpoints, the district, the city, and finally the economic, regulatory and political context that affects the building. Related geographical information is included to support that central subject; it does not convert the project into a general tourism or lifestyle portal.

Coverage priorities are shaped by what is architecturally remarkable, publicly verifiable and useful to readers. The project distinguishes four kinds of content and labels them consistently:

• Accessible architectural information Facts about a building, its programme, its architect, its construction status, its dimensions and its context that a general reader can understand without specialist training.
• Original commentary Editorial interpretation written by SkyscrapersInfo, clearly identified as such and separated from factual reporting.
• Visual reporting Photography, diagrams, maps and renderings that document or illustrate the subject, with rights and provenance addressed in Section 08.
• Research Comparative rankings, methodology notes and database work that underpin the editorial product and may be reused across pages.

SkyscrapersInfo is committed to accuracy, to transparent labelling, to correction when material is found to be wrong, and to a research practice that does not overstate what is known. Where the project does not yet have an answer, that absence is acknowledged rather than filled with speculation presented as fact.

Editorial judgements on what SkyscrapersInfo publishes, how it is described, how it is ranked and how it is corrected are made by the persons responsible for editorial decisions at the operator. They are not determined by advertisers, sponsors, developers, real-estate interests, contractors or commercial partners. Where a commercial relationship exists, it is treated as a relationship, not as a source of editorial authority.

Any paid collaboration — whether with a developer, a brand, a public relations representative or any other commercial party — is clearly distinguished from independent editorial reporting. Sponsored or paid material, when it exists, is labelled. Editorial content is not adjusted to favour a commercial counterparty, and rankings, factual conclusions and corrections are not offered for sale.

SkyscrapersInfo follows a transparent, repeatable research process for identifying skyscrapers and tall buildings, collecting project information, comparing conflicting sources and updating published material. The process is documented here at a level of detail consistent with what a careful reader could use to interrogate a published entry.

For each significant claim — a height, a status, a date, an architect, a developer, a location — the persons responsible for the relevant editorial work record the type of evidence that supports it. The following categories are used consistently across the site:

• Verified Supported by primary documentation, official records or independent corroboration reviewed by the persons responsible for editorial decisions.
• Estimated Derived from credible professional sources where a primary measurement has not yet been published or accessed.
• Preliminary Based on early-stage design material, renderings or announcements, subject to change as the project develops.
• Announced Reported by a credible source as intended, planned or publicly declared by the developer or owner.
• Disputed The subject of conflicting credible sources; the dispute is acknowledged in the entry rather than resolved silently.

SkyscrapersInfo does not represent that every numerical claim has already undergone a completed independent audit, that every figure has been re-measured on site, or that every status classification has been confirmed against a contemporaneous ground-level inspection.

SkyscrapersInfo uses a practical hierarchy of sources. Higher-tier sources are preferred where available, and lower-tier sources are not promoted into higher-tier conclusions.

1. Official planning records, government notices and regulatory filings Building permits, planning approvals, environmental assessments, zoning decisions and equivalent filings from competent authorities.
2. Architectural, engineering, developer and building-management documentation Drawings, technical reports, project pages and material issued by the responsible design and delivery team or by the owner or operator of the building.
3. Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU, formerly the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat — CTBUH) and The Skyscraper Center Used as relevant external research references for height methodology, status classification and terminology. CVU is the current name of the organisation formerly known as the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH); CTBUH is retained for historical methodology. The Skyscraper Center remains a separate resource designation. Treated as a third-party reference resource.
4. Credible professional publications and independently corroborated reporting Established architectural, engineering and business publications, where a claim is corroborated by more than one independent outlet.
5. Original photography and documented observations Material produced by SkyscrapersInfo or by named contributors, with date and location recorded.
6. Secondary sources assessed for reliability General press, reference works and online databases, used with care and not relied upon where higher-tier sources are available.

Press releases are not treated as independent confirmation. They are useful for identifying announcements, dates and parties, but a press release stating that a building has reached a milestone does not by itself verify the milestone. SkyscrapersInfo does not invent citations, access dates, technical certificates or source documents, and does not paraphrase one source as if it were another.

The standards described in this section set out how SkyscrapersInfo approaches source hierarchy and verification. They apply to all published material, including material that was on the site before these standards were set out. SkyscrapersInfo does not represent that every published claim already carries a confirmed primary source, a verified access date, a confirmed record date or a completed rights review against this hierarchy. The existing database is being reviewed under these standards as work proceeds, and entries are updated as new evidence is verified.

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is acknowledged in the published entry rather than concealed. The Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU, formerly the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat — CTBUH) is an independent third party, and The Skyscraper Center is its separate research resource. SkyscrapersInfo does not claim affiliation with, endorsement by, membership in, permission to reproduce protected CVU or CTBUH databases from, or an official relationship with CVU, CTBUH or The Skyscraper Center.

The default height standard for SkyscrapersInfo skyscraper rankings is height to architectural top. Where a different metric is used, the table, ranking or entry states which metric applies. Heights shown without qualification should be read as heights to architectural top unless the entry itself says otherwise.

Metrics used

Architectural features and equipment

Architectural spires, finials and similar design elements that are part of the building's permanent architectural expression are counted in height to architectural top. Antennas, broadcasting equipment, functional technical masts, lightning rods and similar non-architectural elements are not. Where a structure combines a building with a separate mast or antenna, the two are described separately rather than merged into a single height figure.

Starting point

Architectural height is measured from the lowest significant open-air pedestrian entrance — the lowest pedestrian entry that is open to the air, accessible and relevant to the building — rather than simply from the surrounding street or from sea level. Where a building sits on a podium, plinth or sloped site, the methodology's defined podium and site exceptions are applied, and the qualifying entrance and the starting elevation used in the measurement are stated where the choice materially affects the figure.

Common sources of dispute

Height figures may be disputed because of podiums and raised plazas, sloped sites, deep basements, the inclusion or exclusion of antennas, the redesign of spires, or changes to the architectural envelope during construction. Where such a dispute affects a published figure, the dispute is recorded rather than concealed, and any change to the figure is handled as a correction in line with Section 09.

Building classification and occupied-height criterion

Height definitions on SkyscrapersInfo follow the methodology established by Council on Vertical Urbanism (CVU, formerly the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat — CTBUH), which uses three primary height categories — height to architectural top, height to highest occupied floor, and height to tip. SkyscrapersInfo does not reproduce copyrighted CVU or CTBUH diagrams or text. Under the CVU approach, a structure is classified as a Building only where at least 50% of its total height is occupiable for the relevant use; below that threshold the structure is treated as a non-building tower and is not entered into building rankings on the same footing as a building. Architectural height is not applied to telecommunications towers or observation towers, and such structures are kept separate from building rankings. The application of the methodology on SkyscrapersInfo is an editorial application; where SkyscrapersInfo's editorial choices diverge from the published CVU/CTBUH criteria, the divergence is recorded in the entry rather than concealed.

Roof height as an editorial metric

Roof height — the elevation of the structural roof slab — is not a primary CVU/CTBUH category. SkyscrapersInfo may report roof height as a supplementary editorial figure where it is the metric that best answers a specific editorial question. Where it is used, the entry identifies it as roof height rather than as a CVU/CTBUH primary metric.

Thresholds and tables

Where the website uses a height threshold to produce a table or ranking — including thresholds such as 150 m, 200 m, 300 m or 600 m — the threshold is stated for each individual table or ranking. Estimated heights are not presented as confirmed architectural heights; an estimated figure is labelled accordingly.

SkyscrapersInfo classifies each project against a transparent editorial framework. The same status definitions apply across rankings, individual entries and database tables, unless a specific table states otherwise.

Stage distinctions

Status classification, the granting of construction permits, the reaching of structural top, the opening of the building and practical occupancy are different stages and are not interchangeable. A foundation permit or a promotional rendering does not, by itself, prove that construction has started. A topped-out tower is not automatically a completed building. Announced completion dates are not guaranteed and may shift; where the announced date differs from the date SkyscrapersInfo treats as operative, the difference is noted.

Where a classification is uncertain, the entry is flagged as such and the supporting evidence is identified to the extent possible without overstating what has been verified.

Building records, rankings, heights, names and construction statuses can change. A tower can be re-measured, renamed, redesigned, paused, re-started, completed on a different schedule, or cancelled. Published material on SkyscrapersInfo is updated to reflect new evidence as that evidence becomes available and is verified.

Observation or verification dates are recorded where they materially affect how a record should be read. Historical information is distinguished from current claims: a height figure published in a particular year is not silently re-presented as the figure for a later year. Where a record has been revised, the entry reflects the current understanding and indicates, where appropriate, that a change has occurred.

SkyscrapersInfo does not promise live updates, daily global verification or a fixed update schedule, except where a specific page or dataset states that an update cadence applies to it. Rankings are valid only for their stated inclusion criteria and reference date. A ranking produced on a given date does not represent the global ordering at a later date.

Geographic boundaries — such as whether a building is counted within a city's administrative boundary, its metropolitan area, or a broader urban region — are stated for each ranking or table where the choice materially affects the result. Completed buildings and projects under construction are not merged in a single ordering unless a specific table states that it does so.

Visual material on SkyscrapersInfo falls into several categories, each treated differently in terms of rights, labelling and use:

• Original photography Captured by SkyscrapersInfo or by a named contributor; rights held or licensed for editorial use on this site.
• Licensed photographs Supplied by agencies, photographers or rights holders under licence; credit and licence terms indicated where appropriate.
• Third-party press materials Provided by developers, public-relations representatives, agencies or other third parties; used only where the rights position has been considered.
• Renderings Architectural or marketing visualisations of a proposed or under-construction project. Identified as renderings, not as photographs of a finished structure.
• Diagrams and maps Schematic illustrations prepared by SkyscrapersInfo, or third-party maps and cartographic material used under appropriate terms.
• AI-generated illustrations Visuals produced with the assistance of artificial-intelligence tools. Identified as generated, and not presented as authentic documentary photography. See Section 12.
• 360° video and interactive media Panoramic, aerial and similar interactive material; rights, source and date indicated where practical.

SkyscrapersInfo does not assume that an image obtained through an AI-generation tool or hosted on a generic content-delivery network is automatically cleared for editorial publication. Each image is considered on its own merits, and a third-party rights assessment is carried out where appropriate.

Image rights are considered and verified before publication where this is reasonably practicable. The standard described in this section applies to new and existing visual material. Where the rights position of an image has not yet been confirmed, the image is reviewed before being relied on in editorial reporting, and material that cannot be confirmed is not presented on that basis. Hosting on a content delivery network or platform does not, by itself, confirm a publication licence for editorial use.

The depiction of a building on SkyscrapersInfo does not imply endorsement of SkyscrapersInfo by the building's architect, owner, developer, contractor or operator. Renderings of proposed projects are identified as visualisations rather than as photographs of completed structures.

Maps, coordinates, transport connections and observation-point details are verified to the extent that the editorial process reasonably supports. SkyscrapersInfo does not represent that a particular viewpoint, rooftop, terrace or construction site is legally accessible to the public unless this is supported by reliable information.

This section is read together with the site's Copyright notice.

SkyscrapersInfo treats the correction of published material as a normal part of editorial work, not as an exceptional event. The following principles apply.

• Factual corrections Where a verifiable fact — a height, a date, a name, a status — is shown to be wrong, the published entry is updated. Routine factual refinements are incorporated into the entry.
• Misidentified buildings and photographs Where a building or photograph has been misidentified, the entry and caption are corrected, and the previous misidentification is acknowledged where doing so is appropriate to the context.
• Incorrect heights and completion dates Updated figures replace earlier figures. Where the change is significant, the entry indicates that a correction has been applied.
• Misleading rankings If a ranking is shown to be misleading because of a stated criterion, an inclusion rule or a reference date, the ranking is reissued or removed and the issue is acknowledged.
• Material omissions Where a significant omission is identified, the missing material is added, with the omission noted where appropriate.
• Removed or retracted content Content that cannot stand behind is removed, retracted or replaced with a notice explaining the removal where that notice is itself editorially appropriate.
• Reader-reported errors Reports from readers received through the contact channels identified in Section 14 are reviewed where an active channel exists. Substantiated errors are corrected. The current absence of a working online form on the website does not, by itself, mean that reader feedback has not previously been received through other means; where earlier feedback has informed the editorial record, it is treated as part of the normal correction process described above.

Ordinary content updates — for example, adding a recently released photograph, refining wording, or updating a status that has changed since the entry was first published — are distinguished from meaningful corrections. Where a correction is significant, a dated revision note may be added to the entry to help readers identify what changed and when.

A conflict of interest, for the purposes of this policy, is any relationship — financial, professional, personal or institutional — that could reasonably be perceived to influence, or to appear to influence, SkyscrapersInfo's coverage of a building, a developer, an architect, a contractor, a photographer or a commercial partner.

Relevant relationships include, without limitation, those with developers and investors; with real-estate businesses; with advertisers and sponsors; with contractors, suppliers and consultants involved in tall-building projects; with photographers and image agencies; and with commercial partners of any kind. The same principles apply to the persons responsible for editorial decisions at the operator, to named contributors and to anyone whose work appears under the SkyscrapersInfo name.

SkyscrapersInfo separates three things in its published output:

• Factual reporting Verified facts and documented observations, distinguished from interpretation.
• Editorial interpretation Original commentary, criticism and analysis, identified as such.
• Commercial relationships Sponsored material, paid partnerships and similar arrangements, treated under Section 11.

Where a material relationship exists and is relevant to a published piece, SkyscrapersInfo discloses it to the extent reasonable. Disclosure is not a substitute for editorial judgement; a disclosed relationship does not justify altering factual reporting to favour a counterparty.

SkyscrapersInfo does not represent that every possible conflict has already been formally audited. The standards in this section describe how conflicts are expected to be handled, not a guarantee that every past or present arrangement has been reviewed under these standards.

SkyscrapersInfo draws a clear line between editorial material and paid advertising. Editorial material is produced under the editorial standards described in this policy. Sponsored or partner content, when it exists, is produced as commercial material and is labelled as such.

Sponsored material is identified clearly and accurately. The label used is plain-language and is visible to a reasonable reader in the context in which the material appears. Labelling is not hidden behind generic imagery, technical jargon or visual treatment that a reader could reasonably mistake for independent editorial content.

SkyscrapersInfo does not represent that an active sponsorship programme, a roster of paid clients, a list of brand partnerships or a schedule of paid placements currently exists. Where advertising or partnership arrangements are introduced, they will be addressed in the site's separate advertising policy when that policy is published.

SkyscrapersInfo uses artificial-intelligence tools to assist with production tasks. These tasks include drafting, organisation, translation, research support, image processing, code generation and other internal production work. AI assistance is used to support the persons responsible for editorial decisions at the operator; it does not replace editorial judgement.

The following principles apply to AI-assisted content on SkyscrapersInfo:

• AI-generated claims are not verified evidence An AI tool's output is treated as a starting point, not as a source. Factual claims produced or refined with AI assistance are checked against the source hierarchy in Section 04 before publication.
• No fabrication of facts AI tools are not used to invent building heights, dates, citations, construction statuses, photography credits or company affiliations. Where a tool produces a claim that cannot be sourced, the claim is removed or labelled as unverified.
• Proportionate review before publication Material produced with AI assistance is reviewed to a degree proportionate to the stakes: rankings, height figures and similar consequential claims are reviewed more carefully than routine housekeeping text.
• Authentic photography versus generated imagery Authentic documentary photography is distinguished from generated illustrations and synthetic renderings. Generated visuals are not presented as authentic photographs of real buildings or of construction progress.
• Disclosure for misleading visuals Where an AI-generated visual could mislead a viewer into thinking it depicts a real building, a real construction stage or a real view, the visual is accompanied by appropriate disclosure.

SkyscrapersInfo does not represent that every existing AI-assisted asset has already been reviewed under these standards. The standards above describe how AI-assisted content is expected to be handled; they are not a representation that the review has been completed for every item already on the site.

Readers may, where an appropriate receiving channel is available, identify errors, suggest sources or submit information about skyscrapers and construction activity through the contact channels identified on the site. The website does not currently operate an online reader-contribution form, and no online submission channel is implied by the categories above. Where a channel is currently active, SkyscrapersInfo welcomes substantive corrections and credible pointers to additional evidence, and treats them with the same care as internally generated leads. The current absence of a working online form on the website does not, by itself, mean that reader feedback has not previously been received through other means; where it has, it is treated with the same care as feedback received through any other route.

SkyscrapersInfo does not currently operate user accounts, public comments, uploads, crowdsourcing functionality or moderation dashboards. Community participation, if introduced, will be addressed separately in the site's Community Guidelines page.

Submissions received from readers do not automatically transfer copyright ownership in the submitted material to SkyscrapersInfo. Unless a clear written licence is provided, SkyscrapersInfo treats submissions as informational leads, not as published editorial content. Submissions also do not, by themselves, establish the factual correctness of the material sent, and they do not grant SkyscrapersInfo unrestricted publication rights.

This section describes the types of editorial concerns that readers may raise where an appropriate receiving channel is available. The website does not currently operate an online editorial-complaint form. The categories below are informational and do not imply that an active online complaint-intake service exists.

• Reporting factual inaccuracies Identifiable errors of fact in a published entry, table or ranking.
• Requesting corrections Requests that an entry, caption, ranking or other material be corrected or clarified.
• Challenging misidentifications Cases where a building, photograph, location, architect or developer is believed to have been misidentified.
• Reporting misleading editorial statements Statements that a reader considers misleading in framing, context or omission, rather than in a single verifiable fact.
• Requesting review of disputed sources Cases where the source underpinning a published claim is in dispute and the persons responsible for editorial decisions are asked to reconsider the evidence.

Contact channels referenced from this page are limited to what is currently in place for SkyscrapersInfo. The website does not currently host a working editorial-complaint form, and the absence of a working online form does not, by itself, mean that reader or contributor feedback has not previously been received through other means. SkyscrapersInfo does not publish invented email addresses, fictional department names, postal addresses that have not been confirmed as receiving mail, or response-time guarantees.

Editorial complaints are separate from copyright infringement complaints. Copyright matters — including requests to remove material on the basis of intellectual-property rights — are handled under the site's separate takedown procedure. Ownership of site content, attribution and the rights framework more broadly are addressed in the site's Copyright Notice.