Work starts on CLT record breaker building
30 May 2012Lend Lease is aiming to break the cross-laminated timber (CLT) building records books by constructing the tallest CLT structure in the world in Australia.
Its 10-storey Forté project in Melbourne is also likely to be the first high-rise apartment building in Australia to use CLT.
The world's highest CLT structure is currently regarded to be the Stadthaus or Bridport House in London, at 8-9 storeys.
Mark Menhinnitt, CEO of Lend Lease's Australian business, said CLT was the most significant form of innovation in construction technology Australia had seen for many years.
"Building with CLT is becoming increasingly popular overseas with other residential building developments such as Bridport House and Stadthaus in London being built successfully with CLT," he said.
"It proves that the appetite is there for this kind of living."
The Forté project in Victoria Harbour, featuring 23 apartments and four townhouses, is due for completion in October. Lend Lease has plans to develop 30-50% of its apartment projects using CLT and sees applications elsewhere across the group.
