As a special building, SAWA deserves a high-quality installation

SAWA, Rotterdam's newest sustainable residential tower, sets the standard in timber construction. With an impressive height of 50 meters, SAWA is among the tallest wooden buildings in the Netherlands. This innovative project is being developed and built by ERA Contour. Commissioned by both ERA Contour as Eneco provides Mampaey Installation Technology For high-quality installation of heating and cooling systems.

Sustainable timber construction with Cross Laminated Timber (CLT)

Building in wood is the most sustainable construction method today. Wood stores CO2 instead of emitting it, making a positive contribution to the environment. SAWA's main supporting structure is made of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), while only the core, ground floor and roof of the mobility hub are made of concrete. The walls, floors, beams and ceilings above are made entirely of wood and supported by steel. The wood comes from sustainable European production forests and will remain visible after completion. The facade will also be finished with wood, contributing to SAWA's unique look.

Efficient prefabricated construction and delivery in 2025

Thanks to the prefabricated building components, construction of SAWA is proceeding at a rapid pace. Construction began in late 2022, and according to the current schedule, the residential tower will be completed in July 2025. With the completion of SAWA, 109 sustainable homes will be added to the city on Rotterdam's Lloydpier.

Innovative installation technology for wooden buildings

Mampaey Installatietechniek is responsible for both the thick-walled transport pipeline network for heating and cooling and the interior installations in the homes. These installations include delivery sets for cooling, heating and hot tap water, as well as full floor heating in each home. "Working on a wooden building requires extra care and precise calculations," says Patrick Klop, project manager at Mampaey Installatietechniek. "Because the material is wood, additional procedures and approvals are required. As a result, the engineering on the front end was done very precisely."

One of the challenges at SAWA was specifying all the recesses in the wood in advance. Klop: "With concrete, you can easily drill a hole afterwards if necessary. With wood, that is not possible, which requires a completely different approach."

Collaboration and communication as key to success

For clients ERA Contour and Eneco, choosing Mampaey Installatietechniek as the sole installer offers major advantages. The installation company takes care of both the transport and interior parts, which ensures optimal coordination of the work. Thanks to previous collaborations with these parties, communication runs smoothly. "We have been working with ERA Contour for years, which ensures a close relationship," Klop said. "The other co-makers on this project also make the collaboration pleasant and efficient."