11-Story Newark Skyscraper Will Be Made Of Wood (PHOTOS)

NEWARK, NJ — It may seem anachronistic, but an 11-story high-rise made out of wood will soon anchor one of the largest redevelopment projects in downtown Newark.

On Monday, developer Lotus Equity Group announced that it will be constructing “the nation’s largest timber office building” as part of a massive, multi-million project dubbed Riverfront Square at the old site of Newark Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium.

The high-rise will have a concrete foundation, but the rest of the building will be constructed entirely out of manufactured, fire-resistant wood. The 11-story wood building will have up to 500,000 square feet of office space when finished.

What could inspire architecture firm Michael Green to choose timber over other building materials such as steel or concrete? According to Lotus:

“A healthy building creates a healthy environment for us to live, work, and play. Sustainable materials and thoughtful design make a building a better place to work… Nature has a stress reducing effect. This is also true when natural materials are used to construct a building. Increased focus and concentration, better air quality, better light, and enhanced acoustics are the result of timber construction.”

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An effort to be green was also a main factor behind the choice to build out of timber, Lotus stated in a news release:

“Environmental advantages of timber-built buildings are largely derived from its construction. Trees absorb and hold carbon until they decompose or are burned, while the manufacture of concrete and steel accounts for an estimated 10 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions.”

The complete Riverfront Square project includes 2,000 residential units, large and small-scale retail, cultural and public open space, a hotel and two million total square feet of office and parking space, developers said.

“The vision we share with Michael Green is to design the most environmentally sustainable office tower that enhances the health of tenants and the surrounding communities through efficient planning and green design,” said Lotus CEO and founder Ben Korman.

Lotus and Michael Green aren't alone in their vision. Developers of a 12-story wooden skyscraper in Portland, Oregon called “Framework” are expected to break ground in March. And a 173-foot-tall, 18-story student residence at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada – possibly the tallest mass wood building in the world – will soon house 404 students in 272 studios and features 33 four-bedroom units.

The below artist renderings of the soon-to-come wooden skyscraper in Newark come courtesy of Lotus Equity Group. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Newark Facebook page here.

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