_{Students of the Masters of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism (MTBVU) program, along with Dr. Antony Wood, Director of the MTBVU Program, visited Ascent in Milwaukee on 31 March.}

Students of the Masters of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism (MTBVU) program, along with Dr. Antony Wood, Director of the MTBVU program, had a fantastic day in Milwaukee, on 31 March 2025. Their first stop was the world’s tallest timber-concrete hybrid building, Ascent, where they were extremely privileged to receive a personal top-to-bottom tour led by the building owner, Tim(ber) Gokhman, Managing Director of New Land Enterprises, and Jason Korb, Principal Architect of Korb Architecture.    

_{Left: Overall view of Ascent, the 25-story timber-concrete hybrid building in Milwaukee;
Right: Dr. Antony Wood with Tim Gokhman of New Land Enterprises and Jason Korb of Korb Architecture.}

The first level includes a lobby, retail space, building office, bicycle parking, storage, and mechanical vaults. Levels 2 through 6 are designated for parking. Level 7 houses a swimming pool and fitness center, with the remainder consisting of residential units. Levels 8 through 24 are residential units, topped by an amenity penthouse on Level 25. Numerous units have balconies, and a portion of Level 25 is an open-air roof deck.  

_{Left: Interior view of a residential unit of Ascent in Milwaukee, showcasing the exposed timber structure;
Right: Expansive view from a residential unit on one of the upper floors.}

The project utilizes a structural system comprising glued laminated timber (GLT) columns and beams supporting cross-laminated timber (CLT) floor slabs from Levels 8 through 25. This system is organized around two concrete cores that extend upward from the building’s concrete base. The typical timber floor assembly, designed to allow an exposed timber ceiling on the level below, includes a 7-inch-thick, five-ply slab, topped by a gypsum mat, a mesh panel, 2.25 inches of concrete topping, and a finished surface of either luxury carpet tile or porcelain tile.  

_{Left: Tim Gokhman of New Land Enterprises speaks about the background and motivations behind Ascent in Milwaukee;
Right: Jason Korb of Korb Architecture explains the exposed timber structural system.}

Students enjoyed exploring the building’s interior, which features approximately 45% exposed timber throughout, as a result of extensive testing and close collaboration with local authorities. Notably, the building was designed based on pre-dated code and likely would not be permitted under current regulations. In terms of fire safety, the design incorporated sprinklers, but for evaluation purposes, the system was assumed to fail for the purpose of timber's impact on evacuation, fire spread, and structural stability post-burnout.

_{Overall view of the Milwaukee Art Museum along the shores of Lake Michigan, designed by Santiago Calatrava.}

Following the tour of Ascent, Milwaukee, students visited the Milwaukee Art Museum, an object of extreme beauty on the shore of Lake Michigan, designed by Santiago Calatrava. The museum features a kinetic structure with louvers that open and close, so it signals the inauguration of new exhibitions.

_{Left: S.C. Johnson Research Tower in Racine, Wisconsin, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright;
Right: Wingspread, a prairie-style home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for the H.F. Johnson, Jr. family.}

On the way back to Chicago, students had the opportunity to see another architectural masterpiece, the 1950 S.C. Johnson Research Tower, in Racine. The tower features Pyrex glass tubes on the facade and utilizes the cantilever principle with its central core. Additionally, the real treat of the afternoon was a personal tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Wingspread home, built in 1939 for the owner of the Johnson Wax Corporation, in the later Prairie style. 

_{Left: The cantilevered "Romeo and Juliet" balcony, a distinctive feature of Wingspread;
Right: Interior view of Wingspread, showcasing the fireplace with its 30-foot-high chimney.}

Wingspread consists of four wings that radiate from the central core living space, known as The Great Hall. This area features five fireplaces arranged in the middle of the space, naturally lit through skylights. The use of horizontal lines and natural wood helps the building blend seamlessly with its surroundings. As Frank Lloyd Wright developed his Prairie-style architecture, he integrated living, dining, and other communal areas into one expansive open-plan space. This design concept fosters a sense of unity by bringing people together in a central shared environment (S.C. Johnson & Son Inc.).

Learn more about IIT's MTBVU program here.