Ikea-style wooden skyscrapers are popping up worldwide thanks to "mass timber"

Mass timber construction is transforming the building industry, enabling wooden structures to reach new heights. The 25-story Ascent tower in Milwaukee exemplifies this trend, with 84 mass timber buildings of eight stories or higher completed or under construction globally as of 2022. This technology offers environmental benefits by reducing construction's carbon footprint and storing carbon in the wood. Mass timber elements match steel's strength and pass fire safety tests, leading to increased acceptance in building codes.