Skyscrapers: High on Wood

Fourteen stories and climbing!

Wooden skyscrapers are shouldering their way into the urban skyline thanks to mass timber—laminated wood panels that combine strength, ease of handling, aesthetics and environmental advantages over concrete and steel. A growing number of architects are joining this growing movement. Tall timber projects, completed or in the planning stages, can be found from Australia to Austria, from the UK and Sweden to North America. Some are hybrids, employing traditional materials for below-grade or central support elements. When sustainably harvested, wood can be used to build carbon-neutral structures that sequester greenhouse gases.