Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is preparing to write the history of modern architecture with a project that is ambitious to say the least: the construction of the largest wooden skyscraper in the world. This project, which does not yet have a name, is the work of the firm Michael Green Architecture (MGA), known in the industry for its expertise in large-scale wooden construction. The firm is headed by Michael Green, a pioneer in solid wood architecture who greatly contributed to popularizing this material in the United States.
Monumental and environmentally friendly project
The future skyscraper is expected to rise to nearly 600 feet, or approximately 183 meters, and will be up to 55 stories tall. By comparison, the current record holder, also located in Milwaukee, the Ascent Building, is “only” 25 stories tall. The project is thus expected to more than double the height of the previous record, which in other words is an architectural and technical feat.
The skyscraper will be partially covered in greenery and will include terraces; it will be integrated into a large urban development, which will take place on the site of a former garage, an emblematic place in the city. The project, estimated to cost more than $700 million, will include several mixed-use buildings, including 750 residential units, 17,600 square meters of offices, 3,700 square meters of commercial space, 300 hotel rooms, as well as parking and public spaces.
A fundamental aspect of this project is the use of solid wood, a material that is becoming more and more popular for its ecological, economic and aesthetic properties. The idea of building a skyscraper out of wood naturally raises questions about fire safety. Unlike traditional wood, modern solid wood, such as glulam (glulam) and CLT (cross-laminated timber), is designed to resist fires. When exposed to flames, this type of wood burns slowly and forms a charred layer that protects the core of the structure, reducing the risk of rapid collapse.
Despite these technological advances, it is likely that Milwaukee’s future skyscrapers will also incorporate concrete to ensure optimal stability, especially at such a unique height. The example of the Mjøstårnet in Norway, the tallest all-solid wood building in the world at 85 meters, shows that concrete reinforcements are often necessary beyond certain height limits.
The Milwaukee project is part of a broader movement in sustainable architecture that seeks to reduce the carbon footprint of construction by replacing concrete and steel, materials traditionally used in construction, with solid wood. This type of construction also offers advantages in terms of assembly speed and cost.
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