Why Finland is Building a Wood City

TL;DR

Wood City is a new district in Helsinki, Finland, built almost entirely with timber, combining Finnish wood construction with sustainable design.

Transcript

thousands of years after it was first used for building timber has evolved into one of the world's most versatile construction materials from soaring towers to olympic venues the boundaries for what's now possible with wooden structures are being constantly redrawn and the trend shows no signs of slowing but one team in finland has taken things to ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏛️ Finland's long tradition of building with timber and recent regulatory changes have made tall timber structures a popular choice for developers.
• 🏗️ Wood City in Helsinki is a new district being built almost entirely with timber, combining sustainable design with Finnish wood construction techniques.
• 📽️ The project team is using digital technology, specifically Celibri software, to de-risk the project and ensure accuracy in timber fabrication.
• 🎆 Timber has numerous benefits, including a lower carbon footprint than concrete or steel, visual and acoustic attributes ideal for living and working environments, and higher fire resistance with the use of fire retardant treatments.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why has Finland embraced building tall structures with timber?

Finland's abundance of forests, coupled with recent innovations in wood manufacturing and digital technology, has made building tall with timber an attractive and sustainable option for developers.

Q: What is Wood City and what makes it unique?

Wood City is a new district in Helsinki that is being built almost entirely with timber. It combines Finnish wood construction techniques with sustainable design, creating a unique and environmentally friendly urban environment.

Q: How are the buildings in Wood City constructed?

The buildings in Wood City are primarily made of solid wood, with laminated veneer lumber (lvl) used for load-bearing structural systems. Some concrete is used for cores and lower floors, but the main frames and facades are made of wood.

Q: How is the Wood City project using digital technology?

The project team is using software from Celibri, specifically Salibri Office and Celibri Anywhere, to de-risk the project. They build virtual models and coordinate designs before construction, ensuring accuracy in timber fabrication and avoiding costly mistakes.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Finland, with its abundance of forests, has a long tradition of building with timber, and recent innovations in wood manufacturing and digital technology have made tall timber structures a popular choice for developers.

• Wood City is a new district being built in Helsinki, featuring buildings made primarily of timber and incorporating sustainable design elements. It will house 17,000 residents and create 6,000 jobs.

• The project team embraced digital technologies, using software from Celibri to de-risk the project by building and coordinating virtual designs before construction and ensuring accuracy in the timber fabrication process.