Timber iQ December 2018 - January 2019 // Issue: 41 | Page 4

WOOD FOR THOUGHT
Timber on the rise
M
eet Norway’s Mjøstårnet, a project that aims to
become the tallest timber building in the world.
As timber gains momentum as a more widely used
material in tall buildings, the world’s soon-to-be tallest
wooden building is on the rise in Brumunddal, Norway.
Sustainability, competence and the use of local spruce
are key factors in the construction of this architectural
marvel, thanks to the ingenuity of Moelven, the
Scandinavian
construction company
behind the project.
With a combined
floor area of around
11 300m², the
18-storey building will
include apartments, a
hotel, offices, restaurants,
common areas, as well
Mjøstårnet in Norway is being
as a swimming hall of
constructed in five stages
without any external scaffolding. about 4 700m².
Peaking between 80
and 90m high, the structure boasts intriguing anti-fire
features. Glulam, or glued laminated timber, was used in
the construction as glulam beams don’t burn, says Even
Andersen, fire consultant with Sweco Norge AS, the
company responsible for fire safety in the building.
“The fire safety measures that have been implemented
in Mjøstårnet make the timber building far safer than a
corresponding building with a traditional steel and
concrete structure. Mjøstårnet is one of the safest buildings
along lake Mjøsa, and can withstand even an extensive
fire,” highlights Andersen.
He continues, “The glulam structures have such huge
dimensions that they retain their load-bearing ability in the
event of a burnout fire.” The building is being constructed
in five stages without any external scaffolding – only one
large crane and internal scaffolding.
The glulam structural beams and columns are assembled
on the ground, and then fixed in place via a crane.
Thereafter the floor slabs are added,
and then the external façade.
Finally, the building systems, such
as electrical and plumbing, are added
to finish each floor. Once Moelven has
finished this process for four floors, it
moves on to the next four.
Mjøstårnet is set to be
Candace Sofianos King
completed in 2019.
senior writer