An ambitious proposal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, looks set to take timber to new heights. If all goes according to plan, the project will become the tallest wooden skyscraper in the world when completed.
The currently unnamed skyscraper was designed by Michael Green Architecture (MGA), whose founder is a pioneer of modern wood construction and has played a major role in the popularization of modern large wood buildings in North America.
55 stories high
The exact height of the skyscraper is not yet known, but the architectural firm expects the building to consist of up to 55 stories. To put this in perspective, the tallest wooden building in the world, which is also located in Milwaukee, is the Ascent, and it has only 25 stories. So the new tower will be considerably taller. The tower will be partially covered in greenery and have multiple terraces.
The entire plan involves an investment of more than US$700 million and includes several mixed-use buildings. The project, planned in several phases, would include up to 750 residential units, about 17,600 square meters of office space, 3,700 square meters of retail space, 300 hotel rooms, parking lots and vibrant public plazas and walkways.
Concrete for stability and fire hazard
It is not clear if the skyscraper will include concrete for stability, but with such a height it is likely. Right now, the tallest all-wood building is still the 85.4-m tall Mjøstårnet in Norway. Anything higher so far has used at least some concrete reinforcement.
Many people worry at the thought of a wooden skyscraper, fearing fire safety. This is unjustified, because modern solid (laminated) wood consists of many layers glued together to form a much stronger wooden beam that performs extremely well in the event of a fire.
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