flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Milwaukee board approves rezoning for Western Hemisphere’s tallest mass timber building

Codes and Standards

Milwaukee board approves rezoning for Western Hemisphere’s tallest mass timber building

Mixed-use tower would rise 21 stories high.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | February 5, 2019

Courtesy Pixabay

The Milwaukee City Council’s City Plan Commission unanimously approved rezoning for a project that includes what could be the Western Hemisphere’s tallest mass timber structure.

The 21-story Ascent residential tower would use cast-in-place concrete for the first five floors and concrete shafts from top to bottom. A 15-story exposed mass-timber system that uses steel connectors would be installed on the base.

The architect says the mass-timber system could be installed in as little as four months. The design will feature up to 205 residential units and as much as 8,100 sf of first-floor commercial space.

Enclosed parking would be provided on four floors. Roof-top amenities would also be included. The project still must attain additional approvals.

Related Stories

Multifamily Housing | May 16, 2023

Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier

Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.

BIM and Information Technology | May 8, 2023

BIM Council seeks public comments on BIM Standard-US Version 4

The Building Information Management (BIM) Council is seeking public comment on an updated national BIM standard. NBIMS-US V4 has been three years in the making and is scheduled to be released this fall.

Regulations | May 8, 2023

Supreme Court case likely to have huge impact on Clean Water Act

A case before the Supreme Court will likely determine how the Clean Water Act is interpreted and the ruling could open up new areas for development within or adjacent to wetlands.

Codes and Standards | May 8, 2023

New ASHRAE standard defines ‘zero energy’ and ‘zero carbon’ buildings

ASHRAE has released a new standard that defines the terms ‘Zero Energy’ and ‘Zero Carbon’ to describe buildings.  ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 228-2023, Standard Method of Evaluating Zero Net Energy and Zero Net Carbon Building Performance, sets requirements for evaluating whether a building or group of buildings meets a definition of “zero net energy” or a definition of “zero net carbon” during operation.

Sustainability | May 1, 2023

Increased focus on sustainability is good for business and attracting employees

A recent study, 2023 State of Design & Make by software developer Autodesk, contains some interesting takeaways for the design and construction industry. Respondents to a survey of industry leaders from the architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, and entertainment spheres strongly support the idea that improving their organization’s sustainability practices is good for business.

Office Buildings | May 1, 2023

Office building owners face potential legal liabilities when adding new workplace amenities

Many landlords in the war for tenants have turned to offering new amenities such as conference room services, fitness centers with nutritionists, and high-end food and beverage offerings. To provide new services, landlords often engage with third-party vendors, which can present thorny legal liability.

Codes and Standards | May 1, 2023

Hurricane Ian aftermath expected to prompt building code reform in Florida

Hurricane Ian struck the Southwest Florida coastline last fall with winds exceeding 150 mph, flooding cities, and devastating structures across the state. A construction risk management expert believes the projected economic damage, as high as $75 billion, will prompt the state to beef up building codes and reform land use rules. 

Codes and Standards | Apr 21, 2023

Federal court overturns first natural gas ban in the U.S.

A recent ruling by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco invalidating Berkeley, California’s ban on natural gas within new building construction puts similar measures adopted around the country in legal jeopardy.

Codes and Standards | Apr 21, 2023

Sixteen-year-old climate law not having intended impact on decarbonizing federal buildings

Sixteen years out from a 2007 law that aimed to end the use of fossil fuels in federal buildings, gas heat is still being installed within the federal sphere.

Green | Apr 21, 2023

Boston to adopt stringent climate-friendly building code

Boston will soon adopt a new stringent green state building code that aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions in new construction and major renovations.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021