The Race to Build the World's Tallest Timber Skyscraper

Summary

The video explores the rise of wooden skyscrapers, focusing on projects in countries like Norway, Switzerland, the U.S., and Australia. With wood's renewable and carbon-sequestering qualities, mass timber technologies such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) have revolutionized high-rise construction, overcoming challenges like fire resistance and durability. The race to build the tallest wooden skyscraper has sparked ambitious projects in cities like Milwaukee, Perth, and Tokyo. These projects aim to combine sustainability with modern architecture, contributing to lower carbon footprints and promoting renewable materials in urban development. The video highlights the global trend toward sustainable building practices with timber at its core.

Takeaways

• 😀 Norway and Switzerland are leading countries in using wood for high-rise buildings, with the trend now spreading to the US and Australia.
• 😀 Mass timber technology, including cross-laminated timber (CLT), has revolutionized the construction of wooden skyscrapers, allowing for structures of 30 stories or more.
• 😀 Wood sequesters carbon throughout its life, with each cubic meter storing about one tonne of CO2, making it an environmentally friendly building material.
• 😀 The Malley Phare tower in Lausanne, Switzerland, is a 60-meter wooden structure featuring photovoltaic facades that generate renewable energy.
• 😀 Norway's Mjøstårnet tower, completed in 2019, is the second tallest wooden skyscraper in the world, standing at 85 meters and using only locally sourced materials.
• 😀 Milwaukee, USA, set a world record for the tallest wooden skyscraper in 2022 with the Ascent Tower, reaching 86.5 meters and built mostly from wood.
• 😀 Milwaukee is planning an even taller wooden tower, a 182-meter, 55-story skyscraper, which will feature 90% wood and aim for sustainability.
• 😀 Australia's C6 timber tower in Perth will be 191 meters tall, combining wood with a concrete frame, and aims to be carbon-neutral throughout its lifecycle.
• 😀 The C6 project in Australia will create jobs, boost the timber construction industry, and serve as a model for sustainable urban development in the country.
• 😀 Japan's Sumitomo Forestry plans to build a 350-meter wooden skyscraper by 2041, the W3 50 tower, which will absorb 100,000 tonnes of CO2 and support the local timber industry.

Q & A

What is the main reason for the increasing use of wood in high-rise buildings?

The main reason is the sustainability and environmental benefits of wood. Wood is renewable, recyclable, and has the advantage of storing carbon throughout its life, helping reduce CO2 emissions.

What is the significance of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) in the construction of wooden skyscrapers?

CLT is significant because it is a strong, durable, and efficient material that allows for the construction of tall wooden buildings. It is composed of glued layers of wood arranged in crossed layers, making it resistant to time, thermal variations, and seismic activity.

How does mass timber technology contribute to the construction of tall wooden buildings?

Mass timber technology, including CLT, allows for taller buildings by addressing previous concerns about fire resistance and durability. It enables the construction of skyscrapers up to 30 stories or more.

Which country built the second tallest wooden skyscraper in the world, and what is its height?

Norway built the second tallest wooden skyscraper in the world, Mjøstårnet, which stands at 85 meters (279 feet).

What innovative feature does Switzerland’s Malley Phare tower incorporate into its design?

The Malley Phare tower features an active photovoltaic facade that generates electricity, contributing to renewable energy production while also storing carbon dioxide.

How did Milwaukee contribute to the race for the tallest wooden skyscraper?

Milwaukee set a world record in 2022 by building the tallest wooden skyscraper at 86.5 meters (282 feet). The tower, called the Ascent tower, is made primarily of wood and has a glass facade, with only the foundations and elevator shafts being made of concrete.

What future project in Milwaukee aims to surpass the height of the Ascent tower?

Milwaukee's next ambitious project aims for a 182-meter (597 feet) tall wooden skyscraper. This project will feature a combination of wood, concrete, and steel, with 90% of the materials being sustainably sourced wood.

What is the key feature of the C6 timber tower project in Perth, Australia?

The C6 timber tower in Perth will stand at 191 meters (626 feet) and is notable for using a hybrid system combining timber and concrete. It will be the tallest timber-concrete hybrid tower globally and is designed to be carbon neutral throughout its lifecycle.

How does the C6 timber tower in Perth align with Australia’s broader sustainability goals?

The C6 timber tower aligns with Australia's sustainability goals by helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable energy, while also creating jobs and boosting the local timber construction industry.

What is Japan's planned W3 50 tower, and how does it contribute to sustainability?

Japan's W3 50 tower, set for completion by 2041, will be made of 90% wood and aims to meet the country's strict earthquake safety standards. It will also help combat global warming by absorbing 100,000 tonnes of CO2 and support Japan's timber industry.