Tall Timber Americas Challenges & Solutions Dmitri Jajich, Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
SOM Research and Testing Survey of Recent North American Projects Future
Timber Tower Research Project The goal of the Timber Tower Research Project was to develop a structural system for tall buildings that uses mass timber as the main structural material.. that could compete with concrete and steel while reducing the carbon footprint.
Available Technologies
Available Technologies Mass Timber
Mass Timber Fire Resistance
Proposed Composite Timber System Competitive Buildings Marketable Resilient Serviceable Economical Sustainable
Carbon Footprint Comparison Sustainably Managed Forests Renewable Resource Less Global Warming Potential Improves Air & Water Quality Prevents Erosion Improves Soil Supports Biodiversity
Research Application
Big Picture Sustainability Columns: Material: 5 10% Testing: Some Use: Timber Building Only Floor Framing: Material: 65 75% Testing: Some Use: Timber or Composite Building Shear Walls: Material: 15 25% Testing: Extensive Use: Timber Building Only
Composite Timber Floors
Composite Timber Floors
Form and Function
Verification Testing
Test Section Location
Test Section Location
Full Scale Test
Full Scale Test at Failure Point
Full Scale Test at Failure Point
Connector Tests
Connector Test Results
Full Scale Test
Full Scale Test Results
Full Scale Test Results
AISC Steel + Timber Study
AISC Steel + Timber Study
Benchmark Building Structure
Steel + Timber Solution Framing Plan
System Rendering
System Details
Timber Details
Hybrid Steel and Timber Systems All Systems Prefabricated Construction Lightweight Typical Approach Timber floors for acoustics & fire Steel seismic resisting system Steel or timber columns
SOM Research and Testing Survey of Recent North American Projects Future
Brock Commons Tallwood House Location: Description: Completion Date: 2016 Height: Architect: Structural Engineer: Structural Systems: Slab System: Reference: University of British Columbia, Student Housing 18 Stories / 45m Acton Ostray Fast + Epp Concrete Core (lateral system) CLT Decks + Glulam columns non composite, non structural topping slab https://www.canadianarchitect.com/features/reaching new heights 2/
University of British Columbia Life Sciences Location: Description: Completion Date: 2012 Height: Architect: Structural Engineer: Structural Systems: Slab System: Reference: University of British Columbia Student Housing 4 Stories / 16m Perkins + Will Equilibrium Glulam Bracing with ductile screw connections (lateral system) LVL Decks + Glulam beams & columns composite, structural topping slab https://perkinswill.com/work/earth sciences building esb.html
Bulllitt Center, Seattle Washington Location: Description: Completion Date: 2012 Height: Architect: Structural Engineer: Structural Systems: Slab System: Reference: Seattle Office Building for Bullitt Foundation 6 Stories / 24m Miller Hull DCI Steel Braced Frames (lateral system) NLT Decks with Plywood + Glulam Beams & Columns non composite, non structural topping slab http://millerhull.com/project/bullitt center/
OSU College of Forestry Location: Description: Completion Date: 2019 Height: Architect: Structural Engineer: Structural Systems: Slab System: Corvallis, Oregon Classrooms, office, laboratory 3 Stories / 12m Michael Green Architects Structurcraft CLT Rocking Walls(lateral system) CLT Decks, + Glulam Beams & Columns composite, structural topping slab
OSU College of Forestry Location: Description: Completion Date: 2020 Height: Architect: Structural Engineer: Structural Systems: Slab System: Reference: Framework, Portland Office and affordable Housing, Winner of US Tall Wood Competition 12 Stories / 40m Lever Architects KPFF CLT Rocking Walls(lateral system) CLT Decks, + Glulam Beams & Columns non composite, non structural topping slab https://www.kpff.com/portfolio/project/framework
Longbeach Library Location: Description: Completion Date: 2018 Height: Architect: Structural Engineer: Structural Systems: Slab System: Reference: SOM Longbeach, California Library built over existing parking minimal weight timber allowed reuse of existing foundations 2 Stories / 12m SOM SOM Steel Braced Frames (lateral system) Plywood Decks, + Glulam Beams & Steel Columns composite, structural topping slab (seismic diaphragm)
Long Beach Library
T3, Minneapolis Location: Description: Completion Date: 2015 Height: Architect: Structural Engineer: Structural Systems: Slab System: Minneapolis Minnesota Office Building built to limit of IBC Code 7 Stories, 24m Michael Green Architects Structurcraft / MKA Concrete Cores (lateral system) NLT Decks w/ Plywood, Glulam Beams & Columns non composite, non structural topping slab
Olver Design Building Location: Description: Completion Date: 2017 Height: Architect: Structural Engineer: Structural Systems: Slab System: Amherst, Massachusets Office + Classroom 4 Stories, 24m Leers Weinzapfel Equilibrium Glulam Bracing w/ Ductile Screws (lateral system) CLT Decks, Glulam Beams & Columns composite, structural topping slab
s i u B l l a t T a n t i o b il a c un an H o C rb du an g n i ld
SOM Research and Testing Survey of Recent North American Projects Future
High Rise Buildings Looking Forward Replacing metal deck w/ 3 ply CLT on this project would equal 200,000 cubic feet of CLT. Steel framing with timber decking and framing is an effective way to increase timber usage in the market.
Differential Shortening
Fire Load Limits Proposed ICC Code Changes