A Perfect interplay of planning, logistics, execution

Little C in Rotterdam: a reference for urban architecture, logistics performance, installation expertise, and product competence

Little C in Rotterdam is an urban complex with 15 buildings housing apartments, offices, restaurants, museums, and numerous other amenities. Responsible for the architecture, CULD designed Little C in Rotterdam's Coolhaven, a district for work, recreation, and socialising, which has been characterised by the hustle and bustle of the waterfront since its completion in 2021. A significant contribution to the high standard of the buildings is made by the heating comfort with radiant heating, implemented by the specialist company Terberg, which was able to rely on the Nathan Group for planning and product logistics. The long-standing partner of Uponor (now GF Building Flow Solutions) is a complete solution provider for sustainable climate technology. Under the motto “everything from a single source”, Nathan supplied the Uponor products used, which included PE-Xa plastic pipes, control units for temperature regulation and for the return valves.

A touch of New York

With its brick façade, large windows and cast-iron balconies and transitions, Little C in Rotterdam is inevitably reminiscent of New York's iconic “brownstone” architecture, which has characterised the urban flair of the American metropolis on the east coast since the mid-19th century. The Coolhaven, where the Little C district in Rotterdam is located, has also been around since 1922, when it was dug as an important connection between the Delfshavense Schie canal and the Nieuwe Maas river. Today, the district around the port offers everything that makes urban life attractive: hustle and bustle, restaurants, and museums in the immediate vicinity, but also plenty of green space for rest and relaxation. To enjoy this unique flair, the residents of Little C don't even have to leave the area. Roof terraces invite people to linger, the inner courtyards are a meeting place for chatting with neighbours and the lofts themselves offer a breathtaking view over the harbour area.
 

Perfect interplay of planning, logistics and execution

With the Nathan Group and Terberg Totaal Installaties B.V., two experts worked on the planning and implementation of the building technology. As a long-standing partner of the Uponor Group, which now forms the GF Building Flow Solutions division following its acquisition by GF, Nathan develops and distributes sustainable energy concepts, quality products and services. From consulting, calculation and engineering to product training, the company offers a “one-stop service” for solutions tailored to the needs of its customers and project requirements. “As the Little C complex comprises various buildings with different functions, the water and heat supply for the individual properties had to be planned individually,” says Bas Drost, Sales Manager at Nathan. "The heating of the building played a central role: maximum comfort, efficiency and, of course, economical use of the resources used were required. Underfloor heating was therefore chosen. It ensures comfort and can be operated efficiently and in a resource-saving manner thanks to low flow temperatures. The heat required for this in Little C is provided by district heating." Nathan used 3D drawings during the planning phase to ensure that potential errors could be identified in advance. "As the planning drawings for the underfloor heating were created in Revit, we discovered early on that the kitchen unit was above the underfloor heating. Traditionally, you work with AutoCAD or another 2D program, but you realize that with a 3D program, everything is interwoven into one model. This minimizes the possibility of errors,” says Jeroen Verschuuren, Project Manager at Terberg.
 
 

Panel heating for maximum thermal comfort

When installing the panel heating, those responsible at Nathan and the specialist company Terberg faced the challenge of distributing the heat evenly in the buildings, which are up to 60 meters high. The higher the buildings, the greater the pressure required in the distribution and riser pipes. Nathan therefore recommended the tried and tested Uponor Radi-Pipe system to Terberg. These PE-Xa plastic pipes are suitable for up to 10 bar and are characterized by low pressure loss and high temperature resistance. This means that they can withstand the high requirements in the best possible way. In addition, the robust plastic pipe can be laid very flexibly, easily, and quickly–Terberg's experts installed 120 kilometres of it in the Little C. Nathan offers a wide range of Uponor fittings and other accessories for Radi-Pipe: an advantage because all components could be purchased from a single source.
 
With the Smatrix Base control system, Uponor also supplied the right solution for temperature control in the individual lofts. An auto-balancing function ensures uniform floor temperatures, a fast response time for the underfloor heating and high energy efficiency. The Uponor Vario PLUS thermal actuators control the return valves in the heating circuit manifold.