Plans for the Bevel tower reveal a 180-foot wooden office building designed to stand as a landmark of sustainable construction, combining modern timber engineering with green building techniques.
- Tallest mass timber office building in the USA at 180 ft
- Hybrid structure combining concrete, steel, and engineered wood
- Designed for sustainability with LEED Platinum goals
What happened
The Bevel tower is a new office high-rise planned for Bellevue, Washington, set to become the tallest mass timber office building in the United States. At 180 feet tall and 12 floors, it will prominently feature a timber frame that is visibly displayed behind a glazed exterior. The project is being developed by Skanska and designed by Waugh Thistleton Architects and Mithun.
Bevel diverges from traditional all-concrete or steel structures by incorporating a hybrid build system. It pairs engineered wood columns, beams, and ceilings with a concrete parking garage and a steel core for added strength and safety. The design includes modern touches like a spacious, glass-walled lobby that promotes a connection to nature, as well as a rooftop garden space for occupants.
Why it feels good
This project advances sustainable building practices by demonstrating the possibilities of mass timber in commercial real estate. Timber offers environmental benefits such as carbon sequestration and a smaller embodied carbon footprint compared to conventional materials. The Tower’s extensive exposed timber ceilings and visible wooden structure set an example for future office design.
Bevel’s pursuit of LEED Platinum certification means it integrates several green features beyond timber use. These include energy-efficient systems, native landscaping, and stormwater capture and reuse. Such efforts align with a growing commitment within architecture and construction to reduce environmental impacts and create healthier indoor environments.
What to enjoy or watch next
Keep an eye on how the Bevel project progresses from design to construction, as it may influence broader adoption of timber in commercial towers across the United States. Its combination of natural materials and advanced engineering could inspire new approaches to urban architecture.
Future updates are expected regarding timelines for completion and tenant occupancy. Meanwhile, enthusiasts of green building and modern wooden architecture might explore other notable timber structures like Milwaukee’s Ascent, the tallest timber residential tower, to appreciate the evolving skyline of timber skyscrapers.