The INSTITUTE SULTAN ISKANDAR of Urban Habitat and Highrise (ISI) is a company limited by guarantee. With an initial endowment from His late Majesty Almarhum Sultan Iskandar of Johor, the company was established in 1991 by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, in collaboration with the World Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat of U.S.A

The establishment of ISI is in response to the rapid development of population and economics in Asia leading to land use policies and development patterns to accommodate increasing growth of population and tall buildings. As such special emphasis on all aspects of the urban habitat, including urban environment and impacts of technology upon society and urban development is needed. This requires studies on the provision of adequate space for living and working, taking into consideration technological, social and cultural aspects. The need for a continuing dialogue on tall buildings stems from growing urban population creating increased demand for tall buildings in urban settings. Due to impacts on climate change, tall buildings are now looked upon in terms of their sustainability.

ISI supports multi-disciplinary studies in the areas of urban planning, building design and construction, tall buildings, transportation and environment in the wider context of sustainable development. ISI facilitates international collaboration for exchanges of information on urban habitat and tall buildings. Existing links and networks include CTBUH (USA) and CIB, Netherlands and the United Nations. ISI offers consultancy services; disseminate and make new information on tall buildings and sustainable construction available to professionals; organise workshops, conferences and training sessions on sustainable building and construction; and produce technical publications on tall buildings and urban habitat.