Schrobsdorff Bau AG, Berlin

Affordable Housing on a Large Scale

WATERKANT Berlin is one of the capital’s most ambitious new construction projects. By 2027, approximately 2,500 apartments will be built directly on the banks of the Havel River. The state-owned housing associations GEWOBAG and WBM are thus creating urgently needed, affordable housing for Berlin’s tight housing market. To make this possible despite rising construction costs, Schrobsdorff Bau AG—as general contractor and key project partner of GEWOBAG—is constructing part of the residential buildings in the third construction phase using a serial construction method. After ClimaLevel had already equipped the approximately 1,100 apartments in subprojects 1 and 2 with underfloor heating, we are once again on board for the third construction phase.

Photo@ Schrobsdorff Bau AG

WATERKANT Berlin combines urban living with a natural setting and excellent access to City West. This forward-looking urban development project is part of Wasserstadt Oberhavel, one of Berlin’s largest urban development projects, featuring more than 12,750 residential units as well as schools, daycare centers, green spaces, and commercial areas. WATERKANT Berlin is set to set new standards in terms of technology, ecology, and functionality. As early as 2018, the project was awarded the DGNB Platinum Pre-Certificate for, among other things, its sustainable energy concept featuring a combined heat and power plant and a river-water heat pump, its innovative mobility offerings, and the expansion of social infrastructure. A particular focus is placed on affordable housing. As part of the “Berlin Model” of cooperative building land development, approximately 60 percent of the apartments are subject to rent and occupancy controls, ensuring a balanced mix of social groups.

Serial construction
On behalf of GEWOBAG, Schrobsdorff Bau AG is constructing approximately 2,100 apartments with an underground parking garage, commercial space, two daycare centers, and a combined heat and power plant across three subprojects. While the approximately 1,100 apartments in subprojects 1 and 2 have already been completed and the 624 apartments in subproject 3a are largely occupied, an additional 288 apartments are currently under construction in subproject 3c. Completion is scheduled for the second quarter of 2027. As was the case in Subproject 3a, the eight apartment buildings in Subproject 3c are also being constructed in series—a construction concept that is gaining increasing importance in light of rising construction costs, high demand for housing, and ambitious climate goals.

As a partner in the GdW’s “Serial and Modular Construction 2.0” framework agreement, Schrobsdorff enables Berlin’s public housing authorities, in particular, to carry out their construction projects in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. The well-designed building grids can be flexibly adapted to urban planning adapt to local conditions. The project uses prefabricated lightweight concrete walls made from expanded clay by Tinglev Elementfabrik GmbH. This resource-efficient building material reduces CO₂ emissions during transportation and in the structural framework due to its low weight. It also offers excellent thermal, acoustic, and fire insulation properties. sustainability and recyclability. The construction concept is complemented by fully prefabricated bathroom modules and pre-installed building services units. This shortens construction time, reduces costs, and minimizes the environmental footprint. “Thanks to prefabrication, many work steps can be carried out in parallel with on-site construction. Just-in-time assembly enables rapid and precise construction progress, allowing entire floors to be erected in a short time and significantly reducing the need for rework,” explains Senior Construction Manager Jürgen Iwanetz.

Photo@ Schrobsdorff Bau AG

Photo@ Schrobsdorff Bau AG

Photo@ Schrobsdorff Bau AG

Sustainable, affordable housing
Thanks to the modular construction approach, affordable housing is also being created in subproject 3c. All 288 residential units are subsidized. They are distributed across eight four- to five-story buildings. The mix of one- through five-bedroom apartments caters to singles, couples, families, and seniors. All apartments feature a balcony or terrace, and some are accessible.

Reliable Partners
Serial construction places special demands on planning and execution to ensure that this innovative method can fully realize its benefits. With the Berlin-based engineering firm HOLTHOFF mbH, Schrobsdorff relies on an experienced specialist in building services engineering, which is responsible in the WATERKANT projects for consulting and planning in the areas of heating, ventilation, plumbing, measurement and control, electrical engineering, and utility connections.

For ClimaLevel, the challenge was to integrate the floor heating system of the fully prefabricated bathroom modules into the site-installed radiant heating system on-site and to coordinate the interfaces optimally. Thanks to its many years of experience, our installation team mastered this task with expertise and reliability.

Success in Project Business
WATERKANT Berlin is one of the largest projects in ClimaLevel’s corporate history. In total, we have equipped all more than 2,000 residential units built by Schrobsdorff Bau AG, as well as a daycare center, with underfloor heating systems. In doing so, we have once again demonstrated our expertise as a reliable partner in the project business. Additional joint projects are already in the planning stages.  

“

The “ ” project combines industrial efficiency with long-lasting construction quality

and creates modern, sustainable living spaces

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Jürgen Iwanetz,
Senior Construction Manager, Schrobsdorff Bau AG