A rather ambitious proposal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin looks set to take timber to new heights. If all goes according to plan, the project will be the world’s tallest timber skyscraper when it’s completed.
The skyscraper, which is currently unnamed, was designed by Michael Green Architecture (MGA), whose founder was a pioneer of modern timber construction and played a major role in popularizing modern large timber buildings in North America.
We don’t actually have a firm height figure at this early stage, but the firm has said it will be up to 55 stories. To put that in perspective, the world’s tallest wooden building currently in Milwaukee is the Ascent, which is only 25 stories tall. So it will be a significant height increase. The tower will be partially covered in greenery and will include multiple terraced areas. It’s also part of a larger development that Neutral is building on the site of an existing garage that houses a beloved snowbank and local landmark.
“The proposed development represents a significant investment of over $700 million encompassing multiple mixed-use buildings,” MGA explained. “Planned in several phases, the project will feature up to 750 residential units, 190,000 sq. ft. [roughly 17,600 sq m] office space, 40,000 square feet [3,700 sq m] “retail space, 300 hotel rooms, parking spaces and vibrant public plazas and walkways. MGA, known for its leadership in mass timber architecture, will lead the design work with support from an experienced team including HGA, Gehl People, CD Smith and Thornton Tomasetti.”
MGA
There's no word yet on whether the skyscraper will use some concrete for stability, but at this height we'd be surprised if it didn't. The tallest all-timber building is Mjøstårnet in Norway at 85.4 m (280 ft), and anything taller than that has at least some concrete reinforcement.
Many people are wary of the idea of a wooden skyscraper, thinking it would be a kind of flint that would be ignited by a misplaced cigarette or kitchen fire. However, modern mass timber (such as glulam and cross-laminated timber) is not like traditional timber. Instead, it is manufactured in factories and consists of many layers of wood glued together to create a much stronger wooden beam that can outperform even steel because it chars rather than ignites completely.
Such concerns will need to be addressed in order for construction of the record-breaking wooden skyscraper to be completed, and in this regard, plans have now been submitted to city authorities.
Sources: City of Milwaukee, MGA