Professor John Klein and his students in the MIT design a large community center with a large amount of timber called The Longhouse, which is 40 feet tall and made of veneered lumber (LVL). This new type of engineered timber product can withstand high levels of pressure. This material supports the huge enclosed space of the long house, which has no other internal structural support.
Timber is considered to be a key material in the more sustainable construction industry, and timber such as LVT offers a sustainable alternative to steel and concrete, which brings significant economically effect. For buildings over six floors, this timber technology has surpassed concrete and steel construction solutions in terms of cost.
Large timber-framed buildings provide an effective solution for urban expansion and reducing carbon emissions. Large timber structures have a low environmental impact and are non-toxic compared to emissions-intensive concrete. It also has the added benefit of storing carbon in the atmosphere, which is stored in the wood as it grows, as Professor Klein said: “Building is a carbon reservoir.”
Reference
MIT News
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