How We Engineered Incredible Wooden Buildings
Undecided with Matt Ferrell・13 minutes read
Mass timber buildings like Ascent Milwaukee offer environmental benefits, efficient construction, and potential cost savings compared to traditional concrete and steel buildings. Engineered lumber techniques are advancing, making mass timber buildings more financially viable and environmentally friendly in the long run, with ambitious projects like Sumitomo Forestry's proposed 70-story tower in Japan showcasing the future potential of mass timber construction.
Insights
- Mass timber buildings offer significant environmental benefits by storing carbon dioxide, requiring less energy to produce than concrete or steel, potentially saving 106 billion tons of CO2 if cities were built from mass timber, and showcasing sustainable forestry practices like replanting trees.
- Timber buildings, like Ascent Milwaukee, are not only environmentally friendly but also efficient to construct, with 3D modeling, precise machine cutting, minimal waste, and prefabrication leading to quick assembly times, reduced construction costs, and potential savings in time and labor compared to traditional methods.
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Recent questions
What are the environmental benefits of mass timber buildings?
Mass timber buildings offer environmental benefits by storing carbon dioxide, being less energy-intensive to produce than concrete or steel, and potentially saving 106 billion tons of CO2 if cities were built from mass timber. Norway's forestry policies showcase the environmental benefits of mass timber buildings, with timber suppliers replanting trees to maintain a sustainable cycle.
How are timber buildings constructed efficiently?
Timber buildings are constructed efficiently due to 3D modeling, precise machine cutting of wood pieces, minimal waste, and ease of assembly, with each floor taking as little as 5 days to complete. Prefabricated timber construction speeds up the building process, reduces carbon emissions during construction, and can save costs and time compared to traditional methods.
Are timber buildings a fire hazard?
Timber buildings are not a massive fire hazard if engineered correctly, with timber burning predictably and slowly, allowing for structural integrity and the possibility of self-fireproofing. Proper engineering and construction techniques can mitigate fire risks in timber buildings.
What challenges do timber buildings face in certain regions?
Timber buildings may face challenges in regions without local sustainable wood sources due to shipping and fabrication costs. However, they can be financially competitive with concrete and steel buildings, with potential cost savings in construction and environmental impact.
How are mass timber buildings evolving in terms of costs and materials?
Engineered lumber techniques are still evolving, with costs gradually decreasing, making mass timber buildings more financially viable and environmentally friendly in the long run. New connections are being designed and tested to reduce costs and increase accessibility to mass timber technology, showcasing a promising future for this construction method.
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Summary
00:00
"Timber Skyscrapers: Sustainable, Strong, and Efficient"
- Ascent Milwaukee is a 25-story tall building made mostly from timber, making it the tallest mass timber building globally, with only a concrete garage and elevator shafts.
- Techniques developed since the 1980s, like Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue-Laminated Timber (Glulam), have made wooden skyscrapers possible and popular due to their strength and sustainability.
- Mass timber buildings offer environmental benefits by storing carbon dioxide, being less energy-intensive to produce than concrete or steel, and potentially saving 106 billion tons of CO2 if cities were built from mass timber.
- Norway's forestry policies showcase the environmental benefits of mass timber buildings, with timber suppliers replanting trees to maintain a sustainable cycle.
- Timber buildings are not a massive fire hazard if engineered correctly, with timber burning predictably and slowly, allowing for structural integrity and the possibility of self-fireproofing.
- Timber buildings are constructed efficiently due to 3D modeling, precise machine cutting of wood pieces, minimal waste, and ease of assembly, with each floor taking as little as 5 days to complete.
- Prefabricated timber construction speeds up the building process, reduces carbon emissions during construction, and can save costs and time compared to traditional methods.
- Timber buildings may face challenges in regions without local sustainable wood sources due to shipping and fabrication costs, but they can be financially competitive with concrete and steel buildings, with potential cost savings in construction and environmental impact.
- Engineered lumber techniques are still evolving, with costs gradually decreasing, making mass timber buildings more financially viable and environmentally friendly in the long run.
- Despite initial cost premiums, timber buildings offer savings in construction time, labor, and environmental impact, making them a promising alternative to traditional concrete and steel structures.
11:29
"Advancements in Mass Timber Construction Worldwide"
- Mass timber techniques and materials are evolving rapidly, with new connections being designed and tested to reduce costs and increase accessibility to the technology.
- Scandinavia, with its abundant spruce and pine forests, is at the forefront of mass timber construction, showcasing impressive buildings like SR Bank’s headquarters and the Mjøstårnet, a 280-foot tall hotel and apartment building that sequesters over 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
- The future holds even more ambitious projects, such as Sumitomo Forestry’s proposed 70-story tower in Japan, set to be the tallest mass timber building globally, emphasizing the environmental benefits and potential challenges of mass timber construction.
