Lecture
Wooden skyscrapers could be the future for cities
- Global population is projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, with two-thirds residing in urban areas, driving demand for scalable construction materials.
- Cross-laminated timber (CLT) offers the potential to reduce a 125-meter building's carbon footprint by up to 75%, with prefabrication expected to lower costs and speed construction to at least one floor per week, potentially twice the rate of concrete.
- Construction timelines for wooden structures are anticipated to evolve from the current 50-meter limit to a significant step change around 100 meters, with an increasing likelihood of timber skyscrapers being built in Scandinavia, Central Europe, and North America in the coming years.
- The outlook includes a view that concrete and steel should be regulated similarly to fossil fuels and predicts a future shift toward all timber buildings, contingent on overcoming public perception regarding fire safety and securing planner approval.