Coronavirus is too much for tall buildings council

In another conference cancellation due to the coronavirus, the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has withdrawn an event here that was to attract people from 36 countries.

The organization canceled its 2020 Tall + Urban Innovation Conference planned for April 5-7 at the Radisson Blu Aqua hotel downtown. It was to feature judging of worldwide building projects nominated for design and engineering awards. The expected attendance was more than 500.

The organization said the programs and judging will be incorporated into a conference scheduled for Oct. 19-23 in Singapore.

“The council has not come to this decision lightly, but the health and safety of our members and the wider community must remain the highest priority,” it said in an advisory to participants.

It joins a lengthening list of conventions and business meetings in the Chicago area that have been scrapped to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus. The cancellations include four events at McCormick Place.