Construction is underway on an apartment complex in Melbourne that is utilising cross laminated timber (CLT) in its construction and when completed, the Forté building will be the tallest building in the world using CLT technology.

The apartment building will be ten-storeys high, with 23 boutique residential apartments and 4 townhouses and will be one storey taller than the current tallest CLT building, the Stadthaus apartment building in London.

CLT is an engineered mass timber product, which is defined as solid panels of wood engineered for strength through laminations of different layers. CLT can be made into very large, very dense solid panels and has significant benefits over light wood frame techniques in terms of fire, acoustic performance, structural performance, scale, material stability and construction efficiency. The timber panels are stacked at right angles and bonded together over their entire surface and then hydraulically pressed.

This process delivers a viable alternative to concrete and steel that can withstand the same pressure as prefabricated concrete. Being designed and produced in a factory environment means it is also faster to build, cost effective, cleaner and has a higher quality finish. On a weight to strength ratio, engineered wood products match and in some cases exceed the performance of reinforced concrete.

Lend Lease – the designers and developers of Forté – say they are introducing a more efficient and environmentally-friendly construction process that hasn’t been undertaken in Australia before and they are aiming for the Forté to be the first 5 Star Green Star As Built residential building in Australia.

Mark Menhinnitt, CEO for Lend Lease’s Australian business, said Forté will deliver a ground-breaking product that improves the health and wellbeing of residents while also protecting the environment.

“For the first time in Australia, people will be able to play a part in the creation of a more sustainable future by living in an apartment made from CLT,” says Menhinnitt. “Using CLT offers better thermal performance and requires less energy to heat and cool – which means reduced energy costs. The benefits of the CLT structure combined with other design elements such as natural light, ventilation, sweeping views will make it a healthier living option.”

With the structure being built entirely from CLT, Lend Lease says the Forté apartment complex will reduce CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 1,400 tonnes when compared to concrete and steel – the equivalent of removing 345 cars from our roads.

“Timber is the only truly renewable structural building material which is faster to build, safer and cleaner,” says Menhinnitt.

Menhinnitt says the Forté will challenge current building practices in Australia, by delivering a better quality product with an environmentally sustainable outcome.