Largest modern timber building in US makes history

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — A new building in Minneapolis, Minnesota is making history as America's first modern tall timber structure.

The seven-story office building was constructed using multiple layers of wood.

Of course, not everything is made of wood.  The foundation and the first story are concrete and steel.

Construction began in July 2015 and the building opened earlier this month.

, which stands for timber, transit and technology.  All elements that are key to the structure.

The building is made of large panel sections that allowed it to be built significantly faster than other methods.

Additional fire-proofing isn't necessary as the timbers and panels would only char and form a protective layer. That also allows the wood to remain exposed and visible inside and outside the finished building.

Designed to resemble the wooden warehouses that surround the area, it offers more than 2-hundred thousand square feet of office and retail space.

Cox Media Group