West Palm Beach may soon add something unique to its skyline—a 25-story apartment tower built primarily from wood.
Billionaire developer Jeff Greene has proposed a new downtown residential tower that would use mass timber construction, potentially making it the tallest wood-framed building in Florida.
The project would rise at 120 South Dixie Highway and include hundreds of apartments, retail space, and workforce housing. One of the most interesting features? The design incorporates a historic 1915 fire station into the base of the new building.
Mass timber buildings have gained popularity around the world because they can be assembled faster and have a smaller environmental footprint than traditional concrete construction. But, building a wooden high-rise in South Florida also comes with challenges, including strict engineering requirements, fire safety standards, insurance considerations, and the need to withstand hurricane-force winds.
If approved, the project would give West Palm Beach another headline-grabbing addition to its rapidly changing skyline, and perhaps one of the most unique residential towers in the state.
