Novel Technologies for Tall Timber Buildings: Research Streams and Three Solutions

Due to the continued densification of modern cities, tall buildings between 10 and 30 stories comprises a rapid growing sector of the construction industry in Australia and worldwide. Timber is ideally placed to be the preferred material for buildings of these heights. Nevertheless, concrete and steel are the dominant materials for structural, load bearing systems. As a structural material, timber has a long history yet its applications in structural systems of tall buildings remain largely unexposed, specifically in Australia. Perceived technical limitations and regulatory constraints have and continue to restrict the application of timber beyond low-rise constructions. However, significant tech-nological developments, advanced manufacturing processes, and growing sustaina-bility drivers are shifting the balance in favour of timber.