5-over-1

High school (ages 12+)
Making & Design

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/5-over-1

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the economic driver?Significantly lowers per-unit construction costs, making affordable housing projects financially viable
2. What is the urban impact?Facilitates increased housing density, supports mixed-use development, and contributes to urban revitalization
3. What is a 5-over-1 building?It’s a building with a strong concrete base and a few wooden floors on top, like a toy block castle for people to live in.
4. Why do 5-over-1 buildings use wood on top?Wood is cheaper and lighter, so it helps keep the building cost low and makes it easier to build many homes.

Typology: A classification of buildings based on shared characteristics, design, or function.
Podium: A robust, typically concrete, base structure supporting upper levels, often incorporating commercial or amenity spaces.
Fire-Retardant Treated Wood (FRTW): Wood chemically treated to resist ignition and slow the spread of fire, enabling taller wood-frame structures.