The CLT word is spreading

Hot on the heels of Melbourne’s Forte Building, Peter Buchan, a property developer, in an article recently appearing in the Advertiser says he is also keen on building multi-level towers using cross-laminated timber (CLT).

Forte, the world’s tallest CLT apartment building is now under construction at Docklands in Melbourne. Lend Lease’s Forte´ project will stand 32m across 10 levels, and will have taken just eight months to build when it is completed next month.

Peter Buchan says carparks offer a cost-effective platform for the lightweight, high-rise structures. "What we’re trying to do is create a product that has never been done before" he says. "If we can build affordable, high yield residential property built over air space, we are going to repopulate the city a lot quicker."

Mr Buchan’s first target is the thoroughfare of Topham Mall in Adelaide, which he wants to see accommodate up to 250 apartments in four separate timber structures. His property group Buchan Lee and its three joint venture partners – architecture firm JPE Design, Scott Salisbury Homes and prefabricated timber provider Le Messurier – are in early negotiations with the City Council to secure the air space above the Topham Mall carpark to develop the AU$100 million project.

Mr Buchan, says as well as the ability to build higher and quicker, there are other benefits from using CLT. "Where you save the money is the speed in which these things go up. In Melbourne, they’re putting up a floor a week," he says.

Source: The Advertiser (Adelaide)

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