Let’s Get High: The Growing Trend Of Timber Buildings, An Insight

Gone are the days when a skyscraper would be created solely from steel beams and concrete. The future of new builds is becoming increasingly timber-based, and it’s a truly exciting new phase of construction.

We’ve talked previously about timber-framed housing and the benefits of it, but why are timber buildings growing in popularity?

Well, firstly it’s due to the development of the timber industry. Developments in engineered timber such as cross laminated timber and glulam are creating new opportunities for medium-rise timber construction, and now more than ever, the building industry is paying attention.

The real benefits of using timber in medium-rise construction are quite vast – engineered timber products create a renewable resource which offers ease of use, speedy and safe installation, carbon sequestration, low embodied energy and save you on time. Wood is a sustainable material which is not only renewable but also stores carbon dioxide instead of emitting it, like concrete buildings.

Additionally, although probably not of huge importance to property developers, wooded buildings are much warmer than metal buildings – 400x warmer in fact. Wood is a natural insulator and stores heat throughout the day, emitting it at night when the heat of the day fades.

It’s not surprising then, that this trend is really growing in popularity and we’re seeing more and more medium to high-rise timber buildings being constructed.

In 2016 the world’s tallest timber building was completed. At 18 storeys high, Brock Commons in Canada has smashed records and opened up a discourse about how wooden skyscrapers can become a common occurrence.

What do you think?

Would you happily work or live in a medium/high-rise timber building? Send us a tweet and let us know! If you’re focusing on your own timber build, or just need some timber for a project, contact us and find out how we can help.