Construction giant Lend Lease recently put the finishing touches on Forté, a 10-story apartment complex in Melbourne, Australia's Victoria Harbour that was built entirely with cross laminated timber (CTL) technology. The $11 million complex is the world's tallest timber-framed apartment building and the first CTL-framed project in Australia.
The CTL panels were manufactured in Austria and shipped to the jobsite to be used for the floors, walls, and ceilings of the building. A total of 760 panels were used to build the complex. The blog Architecture Source posted a time-lapse video of the construction.
CTL came on the scene in the early 1990's in Switzerland as an alternative to concrete and steel frame construction. Proponents claim the construction method produces significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional processes and it can handle heavy loads thanks to its layered composition.
CTL panels are made by gluing multiple layers of board that are stacked with wood grain orientation alternating 90 degrees at each layer. The sandwich is then placed in a large-format press to create a dimensionally stable building material.
(http://designbuildsource.com.au/melbourne-launches-the-worlds-tallest-timber-building)
Related Stories
Sponsored | | Oct 7, 2014
Boost efficiency with advanced framing
As architects continue to search for ways to improve building efficiencies, more and more are turning to advanced framing methods, particularly for multifamily and light commercial projects.
| Jul 24, 2014
MIT researchers explore how to make wood composite-like blocks of bamboo
The concept behind the research is to slice the stalk of bamboo grass into smaller pieces to bond together and form sturdy blocks, much like conventional wood composites.
| Jul 14, 2014
Meet the bamboo-tent hotel that can grow
Beijing-based design cooperative Penda designed a bamboo hotel that can easily expand vertically or horizontally.
| Jul 9, 2014
Demolition danger: Traditional Japanese architecture under threat in Tokyo district
Residents are trying to block developers from destroying historic architecture in Tokyo's Yanaka district, where a remarkable number of traditional buildings survived the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II.
| May 29, 2014
Wood advocacy groups release 'lessons learned' report on tall wood buildings
The wood-industry advocacy group reThink Wood has released "Summary Report: Survey of International Tall Wood Buildings," with informatino from 10 mid-rise projects in Europe, Australia, and Canada.
| May 28, 2014
Must see: Check out this one-of-a-kind lobby covered with 2,150 pieces of reclaimed wood
The recently opened NewActon Nishi apartment complex in Canberra, Australia, features one of the more unique lobby spaces you'll see, with thousands of pieces of repurposed timber suspended from the walls and ceiling.
| May 2, 2014
Norwegian modular project set to be world's tallest timber-frame apartment building [slideshow]
A 14-story luxury apartment block in central Bergen, Norway, will be the world's tallest timber-framed multifamily project, at 49 meters (160 feet).
| Mar 20, 2014
13 dazzling wood building designs [slideshow]
From bold structural glulam designs to striking textured wall and ceiling schemes, these award-winning building projects showcase the design possibilities using wood.
| Mar 19, 2014
Green Building Initiative Invited to White House Rural Council Event to Support Growth of Green Building, Jobs, and Rural Communities
Green Building Initiative (GBI) Vice President for National Affairs Erin Schaffer is participated in an event at the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters on Tuesday, March 18th, designed to highlight the Obama Administration’s commitment to promoting building construction projects that use green materials, while also supporting jobs in rural communities.
| Sep 9, 2013
BUILDINGChicago eShow Daily – Day 1 coverage
The first annual BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland conference and expo kicked off this morning at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza. The BD+C editorial team is here en masse to bring you this real-time report from the show. Here’s is our recap of the education sessions from Day 1.
