Event recap: Skyscraper of Wood? Timber as a Game-Changer for Construction Industry
Nordic and American architects and mass timber experts stepped on a virtual stage on March 23rd, 2021, to share their ideas on timber as a game-changer for the construction industry. The event was hosted by the Consulates General of Finland and Sweden in New York as part of the annual Circular City Week.
“The 17th century was the age of stone, the 18th century was the peak of brick, the 19th century was the era of iron, and the 20th century was the century of concrete. Now is the time for timber” – Alex de Rijke, Architect, Director of London-based dRMM studio
The International Code Council (ICC) has approved 17 changes to the 2021 editions of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code, allowing mass timber buildings up to 18 stories. With the addition of three new mass timber construction types, this is the first time in the history of the modern building code that significantly new construction types have been added to the code.
Panel moderator:
Matthew Tonello, P.E. of Consigli Construction Co., Inc., Chair of Finland-Maine Industry working group for Advanced Wood Construction
Speakers:
Antto Kauhanen, Stora Enso
Jessica Becker, Föreningen Trästad Sverige
Teemu Halme, Anttinen Oiva Architechts
Oskar Norelius, White Arkitekter
Tanya Luthi, Entuitive
Urban Blomster, Södra Building Systems
Watch the event recording
Timber is a sustainable building material
Wood is the only renewable building material. Working with wood can reduce the climate impact of a building by up to 50 percent and reduce the construction time significantly. The forest provides locally-sourced materials, and when managed sustainably, every tree that is cut is replaced by at least two new ones. Finland and Sweden are both over 70% covered in forests and the forest industry form a big part of exports for both countries.
Healthy, functional, and beautiful
Wood offers appealing possibilities from architecture perspective, of which there are several good examples in both Sweden and Finland. Three of them were introduced at the event by the architects:
- A new timber district Woodcity and an award-winning headquarters of a Finnish gaming company Supercell(Link to another website.) / Anttinen Oiva Architects(Link to another website.)
- Katajanokan laituri(Link to another website.), a building that will house, among other things, the head office of Stora Enso and a hotel. The new carbon-neutral space will be a masterpiece of wood construction in the heart of Helsinki, Finland. / Anttinen Oiva Architects(Link to another website.)
- One is one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings Sara Cultural Center(Link to another website.) that is being built right now in the Swedish city of Skellefteå. / White Arkitekter(Link to another website.)
Wood’s lightness and strength make it possible to build vertically in existing city environments and enlarge existing buildings by using timber-on-top infills or add-ons, or other innovative techniques. The panelists discussed the future of wooden construction, including high rises and the possibilities wood offers for design and architecture.
The science is still in the early stages. Still, we have evidence(Link to another website.) that exposure to natural materials like wood has a physical impact on us: it reduces stress, offers a better ability to concentrate, and improves sleep.
Read more about the Finland-Maine partnership in forest bioeconomy.
More information:
Sanna Andersson
Adviser, Commercial and Trade Affairs
Consulate General of Finland in New York
sanna.andersson (at) formin.fi