A remarkably ambitious proposal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, looks to take timber to new heights. If all goes according to plan, the project will become the tallest wooden skyscraper in the world upon completion.
The currently unnamed skyscraper was designed by Michael Green Architecture (MGA), whose founder is a pioneer of modern timber construction and has played a major role in popularising modern large timber buildings in North America.
55 storeys high
Although the exact height is not yet known, the architectural firm expects the building to consist of up to 55 floors. To put this into perspective, the tallest wooden building in the world, also located in Milwaukee, is the Ascent and has only 25 floors. So the new tower will be considerably taller. The tower will be partially covered in greenery and have multiple terraces.
The proposed development represents an investment of over 700 million US dollars and comprises several mixed-use buildings. The project, which is planned in several phases, would include up to 750 residential units, approximately 17,600 square metres of office space, 3,700 square metres of retail space, 300 hotel rooms, car parks and vibrant public squares and footpaths.
It is not clear whether the skyscraper will include concrete for stability, but with such a height, it is likely to do so. The tallest building constructed entirely of wood is still Norway's 85.4m-high Mjøstårnet, and anything higher has so far used at least some concrete reinforcement.
Many people worry at the thought of a wooden skyscraper, fearing fire safety. This is unjustified, as modern solid (laminated) timber is made up of many layers glued together to form a much stronger wooden beam that performs excellently in the event of a fire.
