A collaboration between Perkins + Will, Thornton Tomasetti, and the University of Cambridge has produced a conceptual academic and professional design for an 80-story residential timber high-rise.
The high-rise, known as River Beech Tower, is part of a masterplan along the Chicago River, and while it is considered conceptual at the moment, the team says it could be realized by the time of the masterplan’s final phases, ArchDaily reports.
If the building does come to fruition, it would become the largest timber structure in the world. Most timber high-rise proposals reach between 30 to 40 stories with timber structures that are actually being constructed coming in between 10 and 20 stories. While 80 stories seems like a bit of a stretch considering what is currently possible, the River Beech team says a new, innovative system the tower’s construction would employ would allow them to reach new heights.
Currently, most timber buildings use a hybrid system of cross-laminated timber and glulam with a concrete core. Other models use a wooden core and wooden floor slabs with steel beams to provide ductility. But River beech Tower would use an entirely different system.
An exterior diagrid system would be used to take advantage of the natural axial strength of timber. In this system, the vertical and lateral loads are resisted by connecting the outer diagrids with the internal cross bracing that skirts the central atrium. This allows for efficient load distribution across all timber elements.
The building would likely have around 300 residential units along with communal spaces.
Rendering courtesy of Perkins + Will.
Rendering courtesy of Perkins + Will.
Related Stories
Industrial Facilities | Jul 26, 2017
EGGER will invest $700 million to build its first U.S. manufacturing facility
The company says the new facility will create 770 jobs over the next 15 years.
Office Buildings | Jul 19, 2017
James Corner Field Operations, designers of the High Line, creates rooftop amenity spaces for three Dumbo office buildings
The new spaces range from about 8,500 to 11,000 sf and were added to Two Trees Management’s anchor office buildings.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Jul 18, 2017
Mortenson Construction incorporates 100-year-old barn into new Portland office space
Mortenson deconstructed the barn and repurposed it for the new space.
Codes and Standards | Jul 10, 2017
New mass plywood panel project moves ahead with federal grant
New material is substitute for concrete and steel in multi-story projects.
Wood | Jul 10, 2017
University of Idaho Arena plans to make timber a focal point
The project received a Wood Innovation Grant that will help spur construction of the Hastings + Chivetta-designed project.
Wood | Jun 13, 2017
The first timber high-rise in the U.S. set for construction in Portland
The building’s design, building materials, and commercial tenants are all focused on the key aspect of sustainability.
| Jun 13, 2017
Accelerate Live! talk: Next-gen materials for the built environment, Blaine Brownell, Transmaterial
Architect and materials guru Blaine Brownell reveals emerging trends and applications that are transforming the technological capacity, environmental performance, and design potential of architecture.
Wood | Jun 6, 2017
Shigeru Ban-designed residential structure poised to become world’s tallest hybrid timber building
The wood, concrete, and glass building will rise approximately 233 feet when finished.
| Jun 5, 2017
Fire-rated frames deliver the natural look of wood
The TimberLine Series pairs a high-strength steel subframe with a wood-veneered metal cover cap to produce a slender fire-rated frame.
Multifamily Housing | May 17, 2017
Swedish Tower’s 15th floor is reserved for a panoramic garden
C.F. Møller’s design was selected as the winner of a competition organized by Riksbyggen in Västerås.
