“We’re at the beginning of a revolution, I hope, in the way we build because this is the first new way to build a skyscraper in probably a hundred years or more.”
Michael Green, Founder & Principal at Michael Green Architecture
Architects and engineers around the globe are going back to their “roots” looking at innovative ways to build taller, more environmentally sound, safer structures from wood. That’s right, wood.
Eighteen-story buildings made of timber already exist in Vancouver and Minneapolis. More plans being developed for even taller buildings such as the River Beech Tower project currently being conceptualized by architecture firm Perkins + Will as well as Japanese company Sumitomo Forestry planning to build the world’s tallest wooden structure that could be as tall as 70 stories.
For decades, concrete and steal have been the only viable options to build structures above 4 stories, but their strength comes with a price. They are both very energy-intensive to produce accounting for nearly 11 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and a carbon footprint. Building skyscrapers from wood could drastically reduce the amount of CO2 emissions as the demand for taller buildings in urban areas grows. Of course, this benefit relies on sustainable forestry practices as well.
But wood cannot possibly match the strength of concrete and steal, right? With multi-ply lamination and proper design/engineering wood can be just as or stronger than it’s counterparts. Perkins + Will is designing using triangle and diamond shapes which are much more structurally sturdy form than the rectangles used in most modern day construction. According to an article written by “The Week”, key connection points would still utilize concrete and steel for added strength as well as other materials to encase the wood skeleton. You may be asking yourself, “Aren’t wooden structures a tinder box waiting to explode?” In short, no. Proponents say they might actually be safer. The reality is that steel melts and bends when heat is applied; Wood timbers will char on the outside but remain structurally intact.