The Evolution of Skyscrapers

Courtesy+of+Creative+Commons

Courtesy of Creative Commons

       There are hundreds if not thousands of skyscrapers in the world. In the past, skyscrapers had been made out of concrete and steel. Now, contractors are trying to go another route, where skyscrapers would be made of wood. They say that these new skyscrapers will be made with a material that is better for the environment, and the builders designing this new class of skyscrapers call this new building, “Plyscrapers.”

Many skyscrapers are made of metal, wood, and concrete, and this is because they were safer. However, these materials produce a lot of harmful chemicals such as carbon dioxide, which can be trapped in the atmosphere. These new skyscrapers are also very safe, as the wood is extremely strong and can be used to make walls, floors, and roofs. The skyscrapers are built by having the pieces of wood glued and pressed into each other.

According to the Economist, more than half the world’s population live in cities, and this is expected to reach 68% in the coming years. Due to this, most architects became interested in making skyscrapers out of wood. There are numerous wooden skyscrapers currently, but the tallest skyscraper (which is made of timber) is located in Norway and is called the Mjøstårnet. The Mjøstårnet is 53 meters high and was made of cross-laminated timber, which is a type of wood that helps architects build tall buildings.

If the construction of wooden skyscrapers continues, it will not only help the environment, but the wood used is also extremely solid, and can be a great material to improve other structures.