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Construction of ‘world’s tallest’ mass timber high-rise underway
24 June 2025
Construction started on Neutral Edison (The Edison), a 31-storey mass timber tower in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, which is set to become the ‘world’s tallest’ building of its kind once topped-out in 2026.
The construction site for Neutral Edison, a 31-storey mass timber high-rise build in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US. (Image courtesy C.D. Smith)
The building will reach a height of 362 ft (110 m) by 2026 and will include around 350 residential units, ground-floor commercial space, and a rooftop amenity level.
Located on the former site of a surface car park located on the city’s N Edison Street and the Milwaukee River, the project is led by US-based developer Neutral (formerly The Neutral Project), with Wisconsin-based C.D. Smith Construction serving as general contractor.
It was designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture (US), with structural engineering by Thornton Tomasetti (US) and mass timber supplied by Stora Enso (Finland) and Wiehag (Austria).
The Edison will surpass Milwaukee’s own Ascent MKE tower, the current record-holder for the world’s tallest mass timber building at 25 storeys and 87m; it was completed in 2022. Once complete, The Edison will be less than 1 mile from Ascent MKE, meaning the world’s two tallest mass timber high-rises will be in a ten-block urban area.
No other mass timber project currently under construction has confirmed plans to exceed Edison’s proposed height, though several taller hybrid concepts – like the Atlassian Central tower in Sydney, Australia – remain in various stages of development or design.
Both Ascent and Edison rely on hybrid structural systems that include a concrete core combined with cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam elements for floors and structural framing.
As with Ascent MKE, The Edison required special permitting considerations, particularly around fire testing and life safety standards.
The entire cost of construction is expected to be approximately US$200 million, with C.D. Smith securing about $133 million in financing to start the build.
It’s expected to open to the residents and the public in 2027.
Neutral Edison’s sustainable construction focus
Render of The Edison building, a proposed mass-timber high-rise in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US. (Image courtesy Neutral)
In a statement announcing the groundbreaking, C.D. Smith and Neutral positioned the development as a milestone in sustainable construction, citing mass timber’s carbon-storing potential and reduced environmental footprint compared with conventional high-rise materials.
Neutral is targeting both Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) certification and Living Building Challenge Core certification, placing the project among the more environmentally ambitious high-rises currently under construction in North America.
Developers believe the structural system will allow for faster construction, lower embodied carbon, and improved indoor air quality.
In addition to material performance, the building will feature high-efficiency HVAC systems, triple-glazed windows, and a thermal envelope designed to exceed baseline energy codes. Neutral said the approach will reduce operational energy consumption by as much as 50% compared to conventional multifamily towers.
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