Located in central Norway, Mjøstårnet is a 280-foot-tall structure that is pushing the limits of architecture and setting a path for the sustainable cities of tomorrow
Worldwide, buildings produce about 40 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions. While net-zero energy buildings and retrofits can improve those numbers, the construction industry—and, specifically, the materials it uses—has an intrinsic role to play. In Norway, a new high-rise edifice built almost entirely of wood—call it a “plyscraper”—has finally opened its doors. The Mjøstårnet building, which includes a hotel, restaurants, offices, and apartments, stands at 280 feet (18 stories), making it the tallest timber-frame structure in the world.
Could this be a key to creating the sustainable cities of tomorrow?
Wood-construction products company Moelven, which was behind the project, thinks so; Mjøstårnet was built using local renewable resources, and since wood stores CO2 throughout its life cycle, no further emissions are released.
Wood-construction products company Moelven, which was behind the project, thinks so; Mjøstårnet was built using local renewable resources, and since wood stores CO2 throughout its life cycle, no further emissions are released.
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| A look at the exterior of Mjøstårnet, the world's tallest timber structure.Photo: Curtesy fo Moelven |
Owned by AB Invest and designed by Voll Arkitekter of Trondheim, the nearly 122,000-square-foot edifice is located in Brumunddal, a small city in central Norway, and near the country's largest lake (an area known for its robust timber industry). To construct the tower, builders used glulam and laminated timber beams; both are strong enough to replace carbon-intensive concrete and steel, and require less energy to produce.
ORIGINAL: Architectural Digest
The opening of Mjøstårnet demonstrated that timber could move beyond traditional low-rise construction and become a viable material for ambitious modern buildings. Its combination of engineered wood, innovative structural design, mixed-use functionality, and sustainability objectives helped establish a new benchmark for timber architecture. More importantly, the project showed that the future of tall buildings does not necessarily have to be limited to steel and concrete. Choosing the right materials can make a big difference in the durability and maintenance of a building. FRP sheets are a practical option for projects that require strong, easy-to-maintain surfaces.
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