Benton Johnson. Photo © SOM
Mass-timber construction, a growing industry in the United States, includes elements such as glued-laminated timber (glulam), cross-laminated timber (CLT), and nail-laminated timber (NLT). These wooden elements have a natural resistance to fire through charring, similar to traditional heavy timber. The fire safety of mass-timber combined with high load-carrying capabilities has opened up the possibility of using mass-timber in high-rise buildings.
Architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) has been studying the applicability of mass-timber in tall buildings since 2013…