Can we take timber to new heights?

There’s a global trend for more high-rise timber buildings but why are we not seeing a similar story in the UK, asks David Hopkins

As sustainable construction moves high on the priority list globally, timber as a material has also grown in popularity, and in height. We see taller and taller timber buildings being constructed around the world using engineered timber (see p28), with the new record now standing at 86m, for a 25-storey tower in Milwaukee, USA, called Ascent.

This surge in record-breaking high-rise projects around the world is largely driven by two factors: the maturing of engineered timber technology and the drive to decarbonise the built environment.

Engineered timbers have had their properties modified to give the timber added strength, allowing them to be used in place of more energyintensive materials like steel. These products can then be engineered to precise performance specifications, and often will be cut to measure offsite before being transported and erected at great speed.

Some engineered woods, such as cross-laminated timber (CLT), are pound-for-pound stronger than steel, with the same carbon-saving advantages as standard timber. This has opened the door for ambitious timber projects like those seen internationally.