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Wood for Tall Buildings
COMM 1113
Professor Andrea Mera
Nazir Abdulqayoum
Jihoon Park
Carolina C. Sanchez
Habib Seidu
Karanveer Joll
2022-11-07
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Purpose
Our group's decision to go with wood for tall structures was an interesting one because it
always seemed to be the most practical and economical way to construct skyscrapers and other
soaring buildings. Since the beginning of time, wood has been used for construction, and people
from all eras have always had access to it. We chose this subject since it is currently extremely
rare to construct towering buildings out of wood due to the prevalence of concrete and steel
construction. The use of steel has replaced wood in construction, yet older wood structures are
still in good condition today. causing individuals to desire to re-use wood to construct modernstyle buildings for the residential and commercial sectors. The reader will learn about the use of
wood for buildings throughout history, the SWOT analysis of wood for tall buildings, projects in
Europe and Canada that successfully used wood in accordance with the Mass Timber Action
plan, the key differences between using wood and other materials such as concrete, and overall
how using wood may be better or worse for buildings in the future in this report. After reading
this paper, the reader will appreciate the value of using wood for tall structures and the potential
benefits it may have in the future.
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History- Nazir
The 1400-year-long history of using wood for large constructions is fascinating. There
are valuable wooden structures that were built throughout the history and still stand today, such
as Horyu-ji Temple built in 603 with a height of 32.5m, Stave Church built in 1130 in Norway,
and many other historical buildings (Karsh, 2012). Since the beginning of time, wood has been
used for different purposes such as building houses, boats, paper, furniture, and fuel. The use of
woods for tall buildings has emerged from construction of different structures around the world.
One of the examples include the Neollithic Long House built during 9000 BC to 5000 BC
(Woods, 2016). Construction industry recognizes wood as an important material for building.
Taller buildings are made from woods as a result of recent advances around the world. London's
nine-story Stadhaus building served as an example of how tall wood may function as a
competitive system in the marketplace. A 10 to 12 story structure in Melbourne, Australia, a 17
story building in Norway, and a 30 story hybrid timber and concrete skyscraper in Austria are
just a few recent attempts (Green, 2017). These ideas all approach mass timber construction
structurally in different ways. Each one demonstrates the growth and development of this
significant new market. The use of wood for tall buildings has significantly increased in the past
decades and the construction companies are considering wood for constructing tall buildings
because it is cost effective and good for the environment. Cross-laminated timber (CLT), a
technological advance, makes it possible to build massive wooden skyscrapers (Green, 2017).
For builders, wood and CLT is very important. Additionally, it is more durable. Like any crop,
wood can be grown again, and it sequesters carbon. Therefore, the history of wood for tall
buildings and how it emerged from different parts of the world make wood an important asset for
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building taller. The fact that many tall structures still stand today is a great example of wood’s
reputation and safety factors.
SWOT Analysis- Carolina
Strengths
Despite being the most popular construction material today, concrete is not necessarily
the better choice. Wood is a natural resource that is inexpensive, lightweight, and simple to work
with. One of the most important benefits of using wood for tall buildings is that it is more
environmentally friendly than concrete because the production process uses fewer resources
(GIATEC,2020). Due to its greater strength-to-weight ratio, low energy consumption, design
flexibility, renewable nature, attractive appearance, and dependability in load-bearing
applications, timber is a valuable building material (Ayanleye et al.,2022).
Weaknesses
Wood's susceptibility to biodegradation, for example, under weathering and climatic
conditions or biological attacks (decay, fungi, and insects like termites), may limit its market
acceptance in comparison to other building materials like concrete and steel (Ayanleye et
al.,2022). Although the use of chemicals during the production of concrete can be harmful, the
material in itself is more durable over time and has lower depreciation costs than wood.
Therefore, despite lower production costs, maintenance costs will be higher. (GIATEC,2020).
Opportunities
Companies in the 21st century are searching for more sustainable and environmentally
friendly options as the population increases and housing demand goes up. Typical Mass Timber
products include cross-laminated wood, glue-laminated wood, laminated veneer lumber, dowellaminated wood, and mass plywood panels. Due to the need for sustainable construction and
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changes in building codes, the use of these products in multi-story buildings has rapidly
increased. (Ayanleye et al.,2022). Due to the shorter construction time and lower on-site labour
costs, mass timber constructions -for multi-story buildings- are said to be more time and money
efficient than traditional building materials (concrete, steel, or stick framing). When compared to
traditional reinforced concrete constructions, mass timber structures typically save 20 to 25% of
the time and 4. 2% of the capital cost. (Ayanleye et al.,2022).
Threats
Public fears, perceptions, and safety concerns are among the greatest threats met when
working with wood for tall buildings. Even if construction is granted approval, it may not be
profitable for all parties involved if no one intends to live in the buildings. In a nationwide
survey conducted by Hart Research for the Portland Cement Association (2018), 74 percent of
respondents, believe that allowing wood to be used in high-rise construction is a bad idea.
Additionally, three out of every four respondents, state that they would personally feel uneasy
conducting business in structures made of wood products like cross-laminated timber. For this
reason, it is critical to develop engineered wood products, like Mass Timber, with larger
dimensions, increased strength, and dimensional stability to create safer structural designs.
Projects- Karanveer
Finland has done wooden construction projects in the past. Finland and many other
nations have constructed religious structures out of wood and logs. For instance, in the past,
Finland would have log cottages. Compared to other technologies, wood construction has a very
bright future because it is low-carbon and helps preserve the environment. Compared to other
processes, wood-based materials consume less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gases.
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British Columbia's "Mass Timber Action" Plan, which would provide money for new timber
houses in the province, has been unveiled. The Aspen Art Museum, which is located in
Colorado, is one current wooden project and wood veneer was used to construct the museum.
The architect behind Aspen Art Museum was Shigeru Ban. He is based in Japan and specializes
in wooden timber projects. He also has made buildings out of recycled materials all over the
world. The province of British Columbia has launched the Mass Timber Action Plan which will
create new housing and construction projects made entirely out of timber. This plan was
announced on April 7, 2022, by several cabinet members representing the Minister of Jobs. The
Mass Timber Action Plan creates many new jobs and also allows 10 new timber manufacturers
for the province of British Columbia. A past wooden project was in 2019 when a town in
Norway revealed the tallest timber building in the world. The 18-story wood building contains
apartments and office space for local residents and tourists. This project demonstrates how wood
may effectively replace concrete and other materials.
Differentiators- Jihoon
The price of the buildings is one of the key distinctions between concrete and wood.
Wood is substantially less expensive to build, which results in lower costs for the consumer.
Wood is a commonly available natural resource that is less expensive to deal with and transport
because it is lighter and easier to work with. Construction is slower and more expensive since
concrete is heavier and more difficult to move. Homebuyers will pay more for less square
footage as a result of rising construction expenses. However, a recent rise in timber costs has put
this important benefit of wood construction in jeopardy. Concrete moderates temperature,
absorbs and holds heat, and lowers energy expenses for households. Additionally, concrete
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structures frequently maintain their value, making them a great choice for real estate
investments. Due to the nature of
wood, heating and maintenance costs will be a little more than in a structure made of concrete.
We also need to pay attention to the environmental benefits of wood construction. Not only will
solid wood-based structures and glulam-based frame structures exhibit better material efficiency
in terms of the total number of residential homes built, but increased use of these products will
reduce the annual greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage of buildings. This
requires high and sustained growth in annual production capacity. Compared to conventional
building materials, the potential emission savings when completing residential floor spaces are
approximately 18,000 kilotons CO 2. Investment decisions in the low-carbon building sector
have a long-term impact on the carbon emissions of the built environment and can serve as an
engine accelerating innovation for the production of building materials within the industry in the
short and medium term. Potential emission reductions through the promotion of wood materials
in the construction industry have not yet been realized due to persistent market and policy
barriers answering the question of how to increase the proportion of wooden building materials
in construction and renovation requires a mix of policy instruments suited to the specific
economic, political and cultural characteristics of the countries in question, especially in terms of
wood materials. An example of how to increase the proportion of wood construction is provided
in a Swiss study, where individual policy measures (subsidies, income tax credits, and carbon
taxes) have already had an impact on retrofitting activity, but effects have been achieved by a
mixture of these policy tools (Hildebrandt, 2017).
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However, even though the government actively supports wood construction, citizens' awareness
of wood construction is important, they need to prove to the public that wooden buildings are
safe. If you have to pick the most disturbing thing about wooden buildings, it is, of course,
related to fire. Simple wood has a fire weakness, but as technology develops, wood materials that
compensate for this are emerging. According to GARIS, L and MARK, K’s investigation, mass
timber is substantially more fire resistant than conventional wood. Once a fire gets going, it will
stay burning, making it potentially safer than using other materials. Preconceived assumptions
regarding the risk of fire, which can be the biggest issue when employing wooden constructions,
are eliminated as a result. Additionally, by carrying out these experiments, it was possible to
educate national organizations and the general public about the security of wooden structures.
For instance, the Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and UBC worked together to create a
robust CFSP (Construction Fire Safety Plan) for the Brock Commons Tallwood House student
residence. There were only a few rules to adhere to, but it was enough to persuade them (Garis,
L, 2018). Through increased education to improve the understanding of how timber performs in
fire and targeted research to assist with the implementation of innovative timber elements, we
should expect to see more tall timber buildings being safely constructed. Therefore, it can be
thought that the development of technology determines stability.
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Conclusion- Habib
Summary
In conclusion, this article covered a wide range of aspects of using wood for tall structures. The
report discusses how wood has been used historically in Europe and Australia and how it has
been utilized in different ways. Additionally, the SWOT analysis of the subject gives the reader a
useful perspective on wood. Gives the reader the weaknesses and strengths of the material, how
the material can be used to positively affect the environment, and the challenges that the material
faces. This report overlooks the several projects already underway to employ the material for
large structures like the Mjøstårnet and the Aspen Art Museum. In addition, considering the key
differences between concrete and wood and how they affect buildings. This report discusses why
tall wood structures could be a practical option for residential construction in the future.
.
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References
Ayanleye, S., Udele, K., Nasir, V., Zhang, X., & Militz, H. (2022). Durability and
protection of mass timber structures: A review. Journal of Building Engineering, 46. https://doiorg.gbcprx01.georgebrown.ca/10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103731
GARIS, L., & MARK, K. (2018). Tall Wood Buildings: Maximizing Their Safety
Potential. Fire Engineering, 171(1), 60–64
Giatec Scientific. (2020, July 23). Wood vs. concrete: The best choice for builders and
gcs. GIATEC. Retrieved November 27, 2022, from
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ctors/#:~:text=Sustainability%20and%20the%20Environment&text=Wood%20stores%20
carbon%20dioxide%2C%20which,lot%20of%20resources%20to%20produce.
Granville, M. (2022, April 7). Mass timber action plan launched, four new projects
announced. Mass Timber Action Plan launched, four new projects announced. Retrieved
November 26, 2022, from https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022JERI0015-000519
Hildebrandt, J., Hagemann, N., & Thrän, D. (2017). The contribution of wood-based
construction materials for leveraging a low-carbon building sector in Europe. Sustainable Cities
and Society, 34, 405–418. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2017.06.013
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Holland, O. (2020, February 13). Has The Wooden Skyscraper Revolution finally
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National Poll: Three in Four Americans Think Tall Wood Construction is a Threat to
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https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A550178791/AONE?u=toro15002&sid=ebsco&xid=90b045a0
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