Milwaukee wants to build the tallest wooden skyscraper in the world (again).

Milwaukee has been home to the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper for less than two years, but the city is already aiming to more than double that height. Last month, Wisconsin’s largest metropolis announced plans for a new, unnamed project with up to 55 floors, largely built from engineered solid wood materials. If all goes according to plan, the skyscraper will stand nearly 600 feet tall upon completion, far surpassing Milwaukee’s current record holder, the 25-story Ascent Tower. completed in 2022.

The 1.2 million square foot project will be part of the ongoing renovations of the Marcus Performing Arts Center under the supervision of Michael Green Architecture (MGA), a company specialized in modern timber construction methods. Planned to be built out in multiple phases, the 55-story high-rise could include up to 750 residential units, 190,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail space, 300 hotel rooms, 1,100 structured parking spaces, along with public walkways and plazas.

The idea of ​​a wooden skyscraper may conjure up images of rickety towers that can burst into flames from the slightest spark or falling match, but these are not built with simple wooden beams. Solid wood (also called engineered wood or manufactured board) are factory-made materials in which multiple layers of wood are glued together to form a stronger, single piece. Plywood and composite boards are some of the most recognizable examples, but MGA will rely on much stronger options such as glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT) that are specifically designed to withstand stress, moisture and other environmental factors.

Mass timber supplies are becoming increasingly popular because they are often much cheaper, lighter and more environmentally friendly than the notoriously dirty concrete and steel industries. In many cases, they are even more fire resistant than modern building elements due to their charring properties.

[Related: Oklahoma plans to have the country’s tallest skyscraper.]

That said, there are still safety limits on how high architects can build structures solely from solid wood. In 2021, new International Building Code (IBC) standards limited mass timber projects to 18 stories. The tallest all-solid wooden building in the world, that of Norway Mjøstarnetis only 280 feet long. And if New Atlas As noted on August 9, Milwaukee’s 25-story Ascent required at least some concrete and steel reinforcement, so it’s almost certain the MGA project will need the same. Still, ambitious eco-friendly architectural alternatives are always a welcome sight, and if all goes according to plan, Milwaukee will likely secure its record status for a while.