Bellevue proposed 12-storey tower could become US tallest mass timber office building

A version of this article was posted on X by Interesting Engineering.

Developer Skanska has unveiled plans for a 12-storey mass timber commercial tower in Bellevue, Washington, which could claim the title of the tallest mass timber office structure in the United States (US).

Designed collaboratively by architectural firms Mithun and Waugh Thistleton Architects, the proposed development is known as the Bevel building. The structure is planned to reach a total height of 55 metres.

The project aims to construct approximately 19,000 square metres of office workspace. Mass timber construction incorporates engineered wood products, which are manufactured by binding together layers of lumber to create structural panels, beams, and columns suitable for commercial multi-storey buildings.

Mass timber developments have seen increased adoption across international real estate markets, as developers explore alternative construction materials alongside traditional structural steel and reinforced concrete.

The material is often evaluated for its structural performance, carbon sequestration properties, and lightweight characteristics relative to standard concrete foundations.

If constructed as designed, the Bevel building will expand Bellevue’s growing commercial skyline while serving as a primary national benchmark for timber-based high-rise office architecture.