“From a developer's standpoint, wood buildings are cost effective, and aesthetically they are very warm,” says Archie Landreman, regional director of WoodWorks, a program administered by the Wood Products Council. “It feels good to be in a wood building.”

The need for energy efficiency and sustainability has also brought back the material's use. “Wood itself is an insulator,” adds Landreman, who provided technical support for Minneapolis' T3, “while streel and concrete are conductors. Wood is the only renewable structural material we have.” Its sustainability means today's office workers, especially the millennials so sought after by corporate America, will want to sign on with companies that choose a timber-based building.

The momentum for such construction is growing. Other wood-based buildings in the US include the Design Building at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, a four-story Candlewood Suites hotel near Huntsville, AL, and many across the Pacific Northwest.

Perhaps the most significant sign of wood's acceptance in Chicago is that McDonald's used the material to build its 19,000-square-foot flagship restaurant in River North. Designed by noted local architect Carol Ross Barney, the structure's canopy stretches over much of the block, and is seen by thousands of passing motorists each day.

“McDonald's is like any other company,” said Landreman. “They want to be on the cutting edge, and this makes for a stunning building. This will make wood buildings a truly mainstream idea.”