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Despite growing awareness of their environmental inefficiencies, glass skyscrapers continue to dominate skylines worldwide. Architects like Ken Shuttleworth and industry leaders have long advocated for a shift away from all-glass facades, citing poor thermal performance and high energy consumption. However, the trend persists due to the economic advantages of glass curtain wall systems, which are easy to produce, install, and maintain while offering maximum daylight and views—features that appeal to developers seeking higher returns.

Even as new technologies improve the thermal efficiency of glass, critics argue that adding more materials to mitigate glass’s flaws is not a sustainable solution. While some architects are successfully encouraging the use of more solid, contextual facades, the global trend remains heavily tilted toward glazed towers. With hundreds of glass skyscrapers approaching their “retrofit age,” the challenge now is not just reducing future glass use but also addressing the embodied carbon in existing buildings. Despite calls for change, the glass skyscraper remains a staple of modern urban development—an enduring symbol of technological progress and commercial ambition.