World’s tallest timber CLT and GLT building named

In the hyper-competitive arena of who can build the tallest mass timber building (cross-laminated timber and glue-laminated timber) in the world, Ascent, a building situated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, appears to, at least for the moment, enjoying that accolade from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which certifies building records for the Guinness Book of World Records.

Though the cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (GLT) building won’t be completed until September, co-developer New Land Enterprises, last week celebrated that the building – constructed of mass timber atop a concrete base – was officially named the world’s tallest timber-construction building in the world. 

Ascent has edged out the previous record-holder, Mjøstårnet, an 18-storey mixed-use building in Norway by 1.2 metres. 

The residential floors are constructed above five levels of concrete parking garage, and a system of GLT beams and columns support CLT floors. Two concrete cores provide lateral stability.

Designed by Korb + Associates Architects, Ascent comprises 259 apartments, and mass timber is exposed on ceilings, posts and cross-members. Local building codes limit the amount of the timber that can be exposed inside the building due to fire regulations, however, after 14 three-hour fire tests at a UW lab in Madison, as well as coordination with, and inspection by, the Milwaukee Fire Department, it was given the go-ahead.

The building was engineered by Thornton Tomasetti and constructed by CD Smith and Catalyst Construction, and was built with post-tensioned concrete beams transferring the loads from the mass timber residential floors to the concrete garage structure below.

“This is proof that we as a company, we as a city, are capable of incredible, incredible achievements when we work together and we put our minds to it,” said New Land’s Tim Gokhman. “We have literally proven that here.” 

“We really didn’t start out trying to set a record,” said Gokhman. We started at 19 and then it grew … to 25. And then we might’ve made the first floor a little taller. 

“It still feels surreal. It really isn’t the most important thing for us but I think I’ll be looking back at this day when we set a world record in Milwaukee … and that’s a big deal.” 

Ascent, which was built with the help of a wood innovation grant, was New Land’s third attempt to build a tower on the site that most recently held a single-story building housing an Edwardo’s pizzeria. 

“Ascent is a very exciting project.” said CTBUH Director of Research and Thought Leadership Daniel Safarik. 

“It is helping advance the conversation about how we build more sustainable and healthy cities, especially in the face of mass urbanization and the increasing effects of climate change.” 

While floors 15 and above are still under construction and work continues on the pool and sauna area on the seventh floor, the apartments are completed on the lower floors. There are 14 floor plans and each is named for a type of tree: aspen, cherry walnut, etc. 

Amenities include an indoor/outdoor fitness centre, an indoor dog agility centre, pet spa, electric car charging stations, bike storage and a top-floor community space with two terraces, two entertaining kitchens, an outdoor cinema, a staffed residents-only bar, fireplaces, a game room and semi-private work spaces. 

Buy an apartment here: https://www.ascentmke.com/