This will be the tallest wooden skyscraper in the world

An ambitious proposal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, appears set to take wood to new heights. If everything goes according to plan, the project will become the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper upon completion.

The skyscraper, which is currently still unnamed, was designed by Michael Green Architecture (MGA), whose founder is a pioneer in the field of modern timber construction and has played a major role in popularizing large modern wooden buildings in North America.

55 stories tall

The exact height of the skyscraper is not yet known, but the architectural firm expects the building to have up to 55 floors. 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. The new tower will therefore be significantly taller. The tower will be partially covered in greenery and will feature several terraces.

The entire plan involves an investment of more than 700 million U.S. dollars and includes several mixed-use buildings. The project, which is planned in several phases, is expected to include up to 750 residential units, approximately 17,600 square meters of office space, 3,700 square meters of retail space, 300 hotel rooms, parking spaces, and vibrant public plazas and walking paths.

Concrete for stability and fire safety

It’s not clear whether the skyscraper will also include concrete for stability, but given its height, that’s likely. Currently, the tallest building constructed entirely of wood is still the 85.4-meter-tall Mjøstårnet in Norway. Any structure taller than that has, to date, used at least some concrete reinforcement.

Many people are concerned about the idea of a wooden skyscraper, fearing fire safety issues. That concern is unfounded, because modern solid (laminated) wood consists of many layers glued together to form a much stronger wooden beam that performs exceptionally well in the event of a fire.