A proposed development in in the North Loop section of Minneapolis would be the first of its kind. According to the architect behind the design, the "T3" project, as its known, could be a harbinger of buildings to come.
Peter Callaghan begins his coverage of the T3 project proposal by noting its singularity. According to Callaghan, "if the seven-story, 210,000 square foot office building is completed, it will not only be one of just a handful of tall buildings in the world made primarily of wood — it will be the first such building in the United States."
The article goes into suprising detail in explaining the engineering and design components of the project. According to Callaghan, "the proposed design isn’t simply a concrete and steel building with lots of wood trim and accents. It is fundamentally different — a building made of wood. And those who are expecting a 21st century version of the structures that remain dominant in the Warehouse District will be disappointed or surprised. Those massive, old-growth timbers used a 100 years ago (think the interior of Butler Square) aren’t much available anymore. Instead, the material to be used in T3 is modern, what architect Green calls 'new-technology wood' or Mass Timber construction." There are a lot more details to peruse in the article.
As for how the T3 project relates to a larger trend in the building industry, and its implications for zoning codes and planners everywhere, the article also discusses the politics of the project's lead architect, Michael Green of Vancouver. Green is somewhat of an evangelical for wood construction, presenting his case in a TED talk (below) and a manifesto of sorts, titled "The Case for Tall Wood Buildings" [pdf]. If you're looking for evidence that city's are ready to embrace wood for more and bigger kinds of buildings, Toronto recently approved changes to its building codes to allow construction of wood-framed buildings up to six stories high.
Hat tip to Jenn Stanley of Next City for the link to the MinnPost's coverage.
FULL STORY: Minneapolis' office building of the future will be made of, uh, wood?
Nation's Tallest Wood Building Coming Soon to Portland
Portland, Oregon lives up to its reputation as a testing ground for urbanism innovation by approving what will become the nation's tallest wood framed building.
Wood Frame Construction Has Yet to Catch Up to Regulations in Toronto
When it comes to housing construction, the best intentions of regulators aren't always enough to sway the market.
Atlanta Suburb Limits Wood-Framed Buildings
In an era where cities all over the world are allowing larger and taller wood-framed buildings, the city of Sandy Springs just approved sweeping limitations on the construction practice.
Amtrak Ramping Up Infrastructure Projects
Thanks to federal funding from the 2021 infrastructure act, the agency plans to triple its investment in infrastructure improvements and new routes in the next two years.
Ending Downtown San Francisco’s ‘Doom Loop’
A new public space project offers an ambitious vision—so why is the city implementing it at such a small scale?
Proposal Would Transform L.A.’s ‘Freeway to Nowhere’ Into Park, Housing
A never-completed freeway segment could see new life as a mixed-use development with housing, commercial space, and one of the county’s largest parks.
Seattle Passes Downtown Zoning Reforms
The changes, part of the mayor’s Downtown Activation Plan, make way for more residential development in the city’s downtown core.
Report: U.S. Biking Boom Slows
The pandemic bike boom is petering out, but more Americans are biking than ever before, signaling a need for cities to keep improving bike infrastructure and make roads safer for cyclists.
Tempe Historic Preservation Proposal Could Make it Harder to Build New Homes
Proposed changes to the city’s preservation ordinance would make two-thirds of the city’s housing stock eligible for preservation.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
