By FireRescue1 Staff
NEW YORK — Architects in New York City killed a proposed plan for a wooden skyscraper, citing funding as a major issue.
SHoP Architects won a competition in 2015 in designing a high-rise using mass timber, reported Curbed New York. Although developers received $1.5 million in funding, they cited costs and declining condo market value as the driving factors for scrapping the building.
A New York City law also only permits buildings made from wood to rise six stories, which may have played a role in developers’ decision to halt plans.
Even though SHoP Architects use mass timber, which is less prone to fire than traditional wooden structures, fire susceptibility remains a concern.
Regardless, SHoP intends to continue pushing forward the use of mass timber in high-rise buildings. Currently, there are at least eight high-rises using mass timber in development around the world.
“We remain enthusiastic about mass timber technology and continue to evolve the technology through other potential opportunities,” SHoP said.