Development teams in New York City and Portland, Oregon, each won $1.5 million “to showcase the safe application, practicality and sustainability of a minimum 80-foot structure that uses mass timber, composite wood technologies and innovative building techniques.” The winners, Framework LLC, of Portland, and 130-134 Holdings LLC, of New York, will use the money “to embark on the exploratory phase of their projects, including the research and development necessary to utilize engineered wood products in high-rise construction,” said the USDA. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined the Softwood Lumber Board and the Binational Softwood Lumber Council in announcing the winners of the U.S. Tall Wood Building Prize.
More than 547,000 people work in wood manufacturing and forestry, says the USDA. Vilsack said the demonstration projects would encourage use of wood as a sustainable building product, help mitigate climate change and support rural jobs. While redwood trees are known to top 300 feet in height, oak trees top out at around 80 feet, black walnuts at 50 feet, and apple and willow trees at 30 feet or so.