Four angles of using timber in tall buildings

Abstract

Increasing attention to utilise more sustainable materials in the construction industry has made timber-based building elements more desirable. The advantages of timber in prefabrication and sustainable development are widely known, and recent investigations are looking at using timber for high-rise buildings. Until this point, many tall buildings are already built by timber, and new proposals to use it in design and as a prefabricated component are being made from academics and industry every year. This paper looks at four angles of using timber in high-rise buildings on structural capacity, construction practice, environmental and acoustic performance. A case study is also used to quantify the operational performance of a high-rise building in London, UK, and through a BIM tool, a costing is also accomplished to compare the cost of a high-rise building in CLT with steel and concrete. The study reveals the potential, challenges and advantages of using timber from four perspectives that have rarely been investigated.