Abstract A novel approach, based on hierarchical multiscale modeling, is proposed for analyzing high-performance laminate composite materials. The goal is to explore an alternative to current computational modeling strategies for structural modeling and design of composite laminates, by considering a multiscale approach specifically adapted to these structural objects, characterized by a low-aspect-ratio, and high material heterogeneity as well as highly non-linear mechanical behavior across their thickness. The approach, and discretization, at the considered scales, are devised to 1) capture the relevant aspects of the mechanical behavior and ultimate failure of laminate composites, and 2) render affordable computational strategies when compared to high-fidelity full 3D simulations and alternative computational models. To overcome the classical drawback exhibited in 2D standard (degenerated kinematics) plate theories, yielding constant shear stress along the thickness and, thus, highly inaccurate stress distributions along the composite depth, the RVE problem is enriched in order to locally fulfill an additional restriction: the linear momentum balance (equilibrium) equations, thus resulting in stress solutions very close to the 3D ones, but computed in a 2D multiscale setting. The obtained solution provides the two in-plane fluctuating displacement components, thus allowing model ply failure and interplay sliding, but the approach can also account for the out-of-plane fluctuating displacement component, obtaining a post process of the in-plane fluctuations, thus providing information about ply splitting and interface separation. Results of the presented multiscale approach, applied to some representative problems, are compared to high-fidelity 3D simulations and other literature results The outcome of this comparison renders the proposed 2D multiscale approach as an attractive, highly accurate, and computationally cheap alternative to up-to-date established techniques. This opens the possibility of improving the virtual modeling of next-generation laminate composite materials in order to accelerate its, highly costly, qualification and certification campaigns within the aerospace and aeronautical industries.