A new type of high-rise skyscraper is being developed by a team of modern designers. “Big Wood” is a conceptual project that was submitted to the eVolo 2013 Skyscraper Competition by architect Michael Charters.
Chicago Loop
Rather than relying on the standard building materials used for high-rise towers, this design goes green, using wood as its main material.
Big Wood received an honorable mention in the competition, and eVolo took note of timber as an environmentally friendly alternative to steel and concrete for construction.
According to eVolo, “Recent studies have proved the success of 20- to 30-story mass timber structures.” Hybrid systems would allow developers to build even higher structures.
Big Wood stood out among entries for its technological advances and its conservation and sustainability features. It has been described as a “masterpiece of modern engineering.” Developers will be able to use this prototype as a model upon which to build the skyscrapers the market demands while keeping an eye on sustainability.
The building is to be developed along the Chicago River in the city’s Loop District. The timber for the project will be locally grown and milled. The high-rise will feature three types of housing, as well as a library, a sports complex, retail outlets and a media hub. The complex will also include a community park and a garden.
Since Chicago was the place where the first skyscrapers were erected, it seems fitting that it is the city selected to showcase this new development in building design. Big Wood could be the start of a new age in high-rise construction marking a permanent change in the way cities of the future are built.
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Now this is a smart idea. Yes Chicago was the home of the first skyscrapers but this was because all the old WOODEN buildings burned down in a fire that raged for days in 1871. Go for it guys!