The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => General Board => Topic started by: Ianab on August 09, 2017, 07:22:31 AM

Title: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: Ianab on August 09, 2017, 07:22:31 AM
Local property investor is planning to construct a 12 story office building, from Wood.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/95526075/sir-bob-jones-plans-to-build-worlds-tallest-wooden-office-tower-in-wellington (https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/95526075/sir-bob-jones-plans-to-build-worlds-tallest-wooden-office-tower-in-wellington)

Given the earthquakes that Wellington has (and will in the future) experienced, it actually makes sense as wooden structures can usually handle shaking better than both steel and concrete.
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: drobertson on August 09, 2017, 07:26:19 AM
This will be a neat one to see completed.
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: florida on August 09, 2017, 11:46:28 AM
About 20 years ago a guy started building a new flea market in town. As part of the market, he constructed what was purported to be the largest wood framed building in the state. I was a huge, open sided, high roofed structure, with lots of different levels.  Ona Friday, just after the roof was installed the whole thing fell over! They needed open space so had no cross bracing between the post so a gust of air took it down. They tore it all apart and rebuilt it on bigger posts with cross braces.
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: Gary_C on August 09, 2017, 01:35:51 PM
This is his rationale for wood being a better material.

The building will be made from laminated timber columns and beams, which perform better in an earthquake than steel or reinforced concrete, as the materials are less likely to buckle.


That's like saying that Cottonwood is a better building material than Oak because it will take more bending.
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: Ianab on August 09, 2017, 03:57:18 PM
Living in an earthquake zone you come to realise that simple strengh isn't the critical thing. How it responds to the severe stress is. Concrete tends to crack, and even if the building doesn't fall down it can be damaged beyond repair. Like hitting a 2x4 or a brick with a hammer.

Of course the building has to be designed correctly considering the strength of the material.
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: florida on August 10, 2017, 09:22:43 AM
Ianab,

I've always heard that properly built wood frame homes stand up better to earthquakes and tornados.

By the way, I watched a video last night of 2 guys running tiny jet boats up what was really small shallow creeks. They ran over logs and rocks like they weren't there and apparently didn't hurt their boats. Is this a common hobby in NZ?
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: Ianab on August 10, 2017, 03:31:17 PM
Jet boats are pretty common in NZ, and were actually invented here. Local rivers tend to be smallish with rapids so aren't navigable by a regular boat. Jet sprints are a popular sport where they take a crazy overpowered boat around a narrow shallow course.  Look up some videos of that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv0pI_9JqaU

And a more sedate commercial tourist ride on the Shotover River near Queenstown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgplXG723r4
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: sandhills on August 10, 2017, 04:56:56 PM
WOW Ian, that was a fun ride, I'd hate to know what their insurance rate is though  :D.
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: Ianab on August 10, 2017, 05:18:03 PM
Quote from: sandhills on August 10, 2017, 04:56:56 PM
WOW Ian, that was a fun ride, I'd hate to know what their insurance rate is though  :D.

Probably not as bad as you think. In NZ accidental injury insurance is universal, even if you are a tourist you are covered for your medical expenses. Locals are also covered for lost wages etc. To sue someone for $$ over that, you have to basically prove criminal negligence or intent, not just an "accident". So getting lawyers and courts involved in most accidental injuries is very rare

OSH and commercial boat operating regulations are pretty strict though, they will be spending a packet on compliance there. That boat has twin V8 engines running on LPG. The 2 engines is a safety thing, because if you loose power in a Hamilton jet, you also loose all steering, and there are no brakes.
Title: Re: Tallest Wooden Building
Post by: Don P on August 10, 2017, 07:51:42 PM
CLT, cross laminated timber, or mass timber, has received code approval here in the past few years and they are granting permission to use it in taller and taller buildings.  I'd like to see a push to use it more in residential construction. There is a conference coming up in DC at the end of the month I wish I could make;
http://mailchi.mp/woodworks/still-time-to-register-for-the-northwest-wood-solutions-fair-1497285?e=d151b96bdb
Think of it as plywood made with dimensional boards rather than veneers. It is a good use of low grade lumber. It would be a good use of invasives like ailanthus or of beetle kill.