Austrian green building firm CREE GmbH has opened US operations in San Francisco, CREE Buildings. The company’s timber and concrete hybrid technology enables architects to design wood buildings up to 30 stories, that can be erected as quickly as a story a day. Source: Azocleantech
Wood is the main construction material of the CREE LCT ONE building. Located in Dornbrin, Austria, it features the firm’s innovative LifeCycle Tower system, which reduces both construction time and the C02 emissions common with conventional steel and concrete buildings.
Known as the LifeCycle Tower (LCT) system, CREE’s innovation is a slab and post wood design method that requires up to 50% shorter construction time compared with reinforced concrete and steel construction.
Currently, the company has two buildings in Austria, with several North American proposals in the works.
“San Francisco is a great place for us,” said Michael Zangerl, CEO of CREE Buildings. “Here we are surrounded by the cleantech and sustainable ecosystems, as well as some of the finest architecture firms in the country.
“Tall wood buildings are the future of sustainable urban development. We are excited to provide cities with this cutting edge design expertise and local timber industries with new markets for their products.”
CREE’s first building was its global headquarters the LCT ONE. The eight-story pilot project was erected in eight days after the foundation was finished.
The company’s second building was the Illwerke Zentrum Montafon (IZM) Montafon building in Montafon, Austria. Currently under construction, this is CREE’s first commissioned project and is set to be one of the largest tall wood commercial buildings in Europe.
