MAREVIVO Onlus, a historic Italian environmental association dedicated to the protection of the sea and aquatic ecosystems, is building its new operational headquarters in Rome: a floating structure on the Tiber River, made of wood and perfectly balanced between functionality, lightness, and environmental respect.
The structure, which combines wood and water, technology and nature, was designed and built by Centrolegno Srl of Fano, while the assembly of the wooden volumes was carried out by Metal Gronde 2008 Srl, led by Marco Piselli.
Building a floating structure on the Tevere river, right in the historic center, is no ordinary construction site: limited traffic, restricted access for heavy vehicles, delicate pavements, and an area subject to environmental constraints. The maneuvering space for lifting operations was extremely narrow, and using traditional truck cranes would have created problems related to footprint, ground pressure, and potential damage to the historic paving. The question was clear and technical: how to install large modules in such a tight and sensitive urban “pocket”?
Jekko JF545.2 is the answer
To solve the problem, Metal Gronde 2008 chose the Jekko JF545.2 articulated mini crane, a new addition to their fleet.
“I usually work with traditional truck cranes and lifting equipment, but in this case, choosing the JF545.2 was a winning decision. The tracked undercarriage with rubber pads allowed controlled movements without damaging the pavement or exceeding ground pressure limits. Being able to unload the machine far from the working area and then move it into its operating position was a decisive advantage in such a confined environment,” comments Marco Piselli.
“The most evident benefit came from the variable geometry outriggers. On a job site where the available space changes literally every half meter, this feature multiplied our operational possibilities. Moreover, the articulated boom allowed us to reach complex points with ease, while maintaining sufficient residual lifting capacity throughout the entire assembly phase.”
A drastic impact on project timelines
The JF545.2 had a positive impact on the construction schedule, reducing project time by over 30% compared to expectations.
“We completed the installation of the wooden structure more than a week ahead of schedule, thanks also to the excellent performance of the crane, which drastically sped up operations.
The precision of movement, millimetric control during placement, the ability to work without additional external setups, and the option to move and quickly change configurations all compressed the project timeline. This allowed us to keep overall costs under control and deliver the completed structure to the client early, so they could proceed with the internal installations before winter arrived.”
The new Marevivo headquarters is a visible and symbolic project — sustainable, integrated into its surroundings, and literally in contact with the water.
The compact-heavy-lifting technology of the Jekko JF545.2 turned a challenging site into a precise and clean operation, minimizing space requirements, interferences, and time.
