Milwaukee wants to build the world's tallest timber skyscraper (again)

Nearly 600 feet tall

The as yet unnamed project is part of the redevelopment around the Marcus Performing Arts Center and is led by Michael Green Architecture. Built in several phases, it would reach nearly 600 feet, more than twice the height of the current record holder, the 25-storey Ascent. Plans for around 1.2 million square feet include up to 750 homes, office and retail space, 300 hotel rooms, 1,100 parking spaces and public walkways and plazas.

Milwaukee has been home to the world's tallest timber skyscraper for barely two years.

Glulam and CLT

Michael Green Architecture plans to use glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT). According to the article, mass timber is often cheaper, lighter and more environmentally friendly than concrete and steel, and performs well in fire thanks to a protective char layer. The 2021 International Building Code, however, limits all-mass-timber buildings to 18 storeys. As with Ascent, the new project is therefore likely to need some concrete and steel.

How Timber Carbon sees it

The more timber a building contains, the more carbon it keeps out of the atmosphere for the long term. Timber Carbon, launched in 2026 as a spin-off of Timber Finance, quantifies, certifies and monetises the carbon removed in mass timber buildings as carbon removal credits on the voluntary carbon market. Our technology page explains how we measure it, and Holzkurier covers the 32-storey “The Edison” in Milwaukee.