DOWNTOWN — An 80-story timber tower is at the root of an architect's bold vision for the Chicago River.
Chicago-based Perkins + Will is leading the study examining the feasibility of a supertall wooden skyscraper Downtown, a project that, given Chicago's weather and fire codes, could be difficult to pull off.
But so far, not too difficult.
"Structurally, it's doable," said Todd Snapp, a design principal at the firm.
[All renderings courtesy of Perkins + Will]
Perkins + Will is teaming up with engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti and the University of Cambridge on the project. Dubbed the River Beech Tower, the high-rise is just a concept for now, but could "potentially be realized" during the latter stages of the massive Perkins + Will-designed Riverline community underway near Harrison and Wells streets, Snapp said.
RELATED: New Downtown Neighborhood Underway Along Chicago River
Timber towers are nothing new, but none are nearly as ambitious as Perkins + Will's. An 18-story wooden apartment tower is under construction in Vancouver, while a 34-story timber tower is being considered in Stockholm. Another Chicago firm — Skidmore, Owings & Merill — is researching a 42-story timber tower.
The River Beech Tower would nearly double that. Here's how it would work: The 300-unit residential tower would be composed of two big slabs connected by a central atrium with "communal sky parks." The apartments would be supported by a honeycomb of criss-crossing wooden beams. Wet weather would require an aluminum veneer over the tower's wooden bones.
"The only metal we're looking at is applied, not integral to the structure," Snapp said.
Engineers say the structure could stand on its own. Now Snapp's team and others are figuring out how much it would cost to build.
"There's going to be this sort of invigorative process over the next few years," he said.
Click the slideshow above or scroll down below for more renderings of the timber tower:
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
