Wonderwoods

Wonderwoods is a mixed-use development in central Utrecht: two towers of 73m and 105m, designed as vertical forests, with 419 homes alongside commercial space. The green facades are planted with spec…

Wonderwoods is a mixed-use development in central Utrecht: two towers of 73m and 105m, designed as vertical forests, with 419 homes alongside commercial space. The green facades are planted with species native to the Utrecht Heuvelrug.

Sketcho's Role and Contributions

As the dedicated BIM consultant for Terberg Totaal Installatie Groep, Sketcho worked as the BIM consultant for Terberg Totaal Installatie Groep, modelling the mechanical systems for the apartments in both towers alongside Terberg's engineering team.

Technical Challenges Overcome

Ducting and piping had to sit inside a cast-in-situ floor structure with very little room. Three things made that hard:

  • Apartment layouts varied floor to floor, so services stacked into each other

  • The available floor height had to take every mechanical element

  • Ducts and pipes could not cross, so routing had no slack

We worked through those in the model and found routes that held without changing the structure.

Catching problems early

Where a system layout could not be built as designed, we said so during design rather than at installation. Several concepts were replaced with alternatives that worked. That is the part of the job that keeps a programme on schedule, and it does not show up in the model.

How we delivered

Revit for the modelling, with drawings and documentation for the prefabricated components, each coded for its installation position. Quality control ran on our own checklists rather than on a final review.

Coordination

We ran regular coordination and clash detection sessions with the architect, the structural engineer and the other MEP disciplines, so interdisciplinary problems surfaced in a meeting instead of on site.

Result

Complex mechanical systems fitted inside tight spatial constraints, no late shaft enlargements, and a model the installing party could build from. The project contributed to Wonderwoods' BREEAM Excellent certification.

Long-Term Partnership

The Wonderwoods project represents one success story in an ongoing partnership between Sketcho and Terberg Totaal installatie groep. This continued collaboration across multiple projects demonstrates the trust placed in Sketcho's BIM expertise and our ability to consistently deliver value on complex construction projects.

Results Delivered

Through Sketcho's BIM consulting services, Terberg was able to:

  • Successfully integrate complex mechanical systems within tight spatial constraints

  • Maintain project timelines through early identification of potential issues

  • Achieve the project's ambitious sustainability goals, contributing to its BREEAM 'Excellent' certification

  • Ensure precise coordination between prefabricated elements and on-site construction Sketcho remains committed to delivering exceptional BIM consulting services that transform complex design challenges into buildable, sustainable solutions.

Wonderwoods website
Wonderwoods on Terberg Totaal Installaties website