There is a large variety of methods for the construction of modern timber buildings. Tall wood buildings are not exception to this. Historically there have been many brick and beam buildings commonly found in North America, Europe and Australia. Modern products and engineering have enabled a whole new variety of problem solving tactics to develop taller wood structures. These systems can be divided into three primary categories; All Wood, Wood Concrete Hybrid, and Wood Steel Hybrids. An outline of these construction systems is detailed below.
All WOOD
CLT Platform
This system using CLT almost exclusively. This system is quick to construct and has simple common details for connections and finishing. Two prime examples are the famous Murray Grove (Stadthouse) in London, and Cenni di Cambiamento near Milano. PRODUCTS: CLT FFTT Short Envisioned by MGA architecture and Equilibrium Consultants FFTT is an all wood based system which uses a combination of systems to complete the project. Central service cores are made of CLT along with floors. Posts and beams are used as a main load bearing system within the structure. The Wood Innovation Design Centre in Prince George features this construction system. PRODUCTS: CLT, LVL, Glulam Post & Beam Post & Beam is typically featured in large luxurious homes, however it can be adapted to multi-story timber projects and provides significant advantages in in office spaces for the large floor plans and adaptability it provides. PRODUCTS: Glulam, LVL, Parallam Dimension Stud Framing Stud framing is not a focus of WoodSkyscrapers, but it is worth mentioning as some building codes allow these structures to rise up to 6 stories. Special details need to be added for dimensional stability throughout the structure, fire resistance and earthquakes. These structures generally prove to be very cost effective. PRODUCTS: Dimension Lumber, Plywood, OSB Tube Framing Tube Framing is an innovative system which is commonly used in concrete high-rises, although in a much different form. The Treet project in Bergen features a timber tube-framing system as both a primary structural feature as well as an architectural feature. PRODUCTS: Glulam, LVL, Parallam |
Wood Concrete Hybrid
CREE Solutions
One of the most developed timber concrete hybrid solutions is the CREE system. This system is well designed for effective prefabrication, energy savings, services and connection integration. These are seen in the Life Cycle Tower One and the IZM. PRODUCTS: TCC, Glulam Concrete Jointed Frame This system has yet to be real world tested but is conceptualized to reach up to 42 stories, while providing 60-70% carbon savings over a similar concrete building. The structure uses concrete jointed timber beams to increase stiffness while decreasing weight. PRODUCTS: TCC, Glulam Core Braced System Core Braced Systems are one of the most common forms of modern timber construction. They feature a central service core fabricated out of concrete surrounded by the rest of the timber based building. These systems allow for stiff centres of mass and fireproof elevator shafts. PRODUCTS: Glulam, CLT, LVL, TCC |
Wood Steel Hybrid
Pre-Stressed Timber Systems
A system that has yet to be tested but has seen numerous scientific papers and is commonly used in concrete construction. The system combines pre-stressed timber panels with timber columns. These timber panels contain steel cables connecting multiple systems together. This has the added benefit of reducing structural damage in the event of an earthquake while allowing the building the capability to re-centre after a seismic event. PRODUCTS: Glulam, CLT Steel Bracing There is still significant room for hybridization between timber and steel systems. Currently most timber steel systems stop at the point of using steel as a primary bracing system. The use of this system can be seen in the 7-story E3 building in Berlin. PRODUCTS: CLT, Glulam, LVL Steel Core New projects are underdevelopment in Switzerland for central building services to be constructed out of steel cores with prefabricated timber elements serving primarily for the rest of the structure. The Bullitt Center in Seattle, illustrates this system put to full use in the only known demonstration of full-scale steel core hybridization. PRODUCTS: Glulam FFTT Tall The system uses a strong column weak beam approach with balloon framing. Steel beams act as the weak member in the system bolted to mass timber panels. It has been conceptualized to reach building heights of up to 30 stories in high seismic zones. PRODUCTS: Glulam, CLT |