Tower crane building it up for students

The DUWO student housing project in Amsterdam, being constructed by BAM Wonen, will comprise a total of 767 residences. Photo: Bam Wonen/DUWO

In the Sluisbuurt on Zeeburgereiland district in Amsterdam, Netherlands, BAM Wonen is constructing two student housing buildings in partnership with Stichting (Foundation) DUWO, writes Daniel Searle.

BAM Wonen is part of Royal BAM Group’s residential construction division BAM Residential and DUWO is a not for profit student housing organisation.

Construction of the two buildings – which will provide a total of 767 residences – began in June 2023, with the project to be finished in February 2026.

One of the buildings, called Lot 5A2, will contain 242 independent studios, while the other, Lot 6B2, will comprise the other 525 studios. Being built in accordance with BENG Plus conditions for sustainability, both buildings will incorporate green roofs with water retention – also a feature of the courtyard gardens at ground level.

A “robust building methodology” was selected for the large-scale project, says BAM Wonen, with the work including tunnelling, cavity walls, timber frame elements, and precast concrete façade panels. In total, around 1,400 façade elements have been lifted and installed.

Vital elements

“A crucial role in this process is played by the tower cranes supplied by BAM Materieel,” says the company. “From February 2024 to July 2026, the Liebherr 550 EC-H 20 Litronic is being deployed – the heaviest and most widely used tower crane in the Netherlands, boasting a lifting capacity of 20 tonnes. This crane is erected free-standing on a 1000 HC 10x10 base, with a hook height of 82.5 metres and a jib length of 61.5 metres. The assembly was completed in one go at full height, so as not to disrupt the construction process with multi-day climbing sessions.

“Due to the wind-sensitive environment, wind zone D25 was used instead of C25. This influenced the lift configuration: the operator needed to access the last 20 metres by staircase. The crane is equipped with obstacle lighting, given its proximity to waterways and potential helicopter routes.

“The erection was carried out with a 450 tonne mobile crane featuring a 63 metre jib, which required four lorries and a smaller mobile crane. In addition, a 160 tonne electric crawler crane from the company De Boer, based in Meerkerk, was utilised for the substructure and tunnel construction.

“BAM Materieel deliberately chose Liebherr for its reliability, quality, and support in complex crane operations. Collaboration with Van der Spek from Vianen provides additional expertise in assembly, disassembly, and service.”

The Sluisbuurt on Zeeburgereiland district was first given planning approval in 2016 as a high-rise community built on an artificial island on the banks of the River IJ. The initial design, created by Amsterdam-based architectural company Burton Hamfelt, included 28 tower blocks ranging from 30 metres to 125 metres in height, with 5,500 new apartments.

The DUWO student housing project in Amsterdam, being constructed by BAM Wonen, will comprise a total of 767 residences