An “Urban Quarter of the Future”
The project developers of Siemensstadt Square are pursuing great goals – innovative, forward-looking and sustainable are the keywords for the building project. An unusual contract model has already been chosen for this: A multi-party contract will bring various partners on board and thus lay the foundation for further planning and construction of the future entrance area. From the planned start of construction in spring 2024, two new buildings will be constructed there, including an atrium building with approx. 15,000 m² and a high-rise building with around 27,000 m² gross floor area. A publicly accessible information pavilion and generous open spaces and outdoor facilities are also planned.
Achieving Project Success Together
In contrast to the usual procedure, in which numerous individual contracts are concluded with the respective companies, a multi-party contract involves all important partners right from the start. From planning to implementation, the parties actively participate in the project outcome and thus not only bear a great deal of responsibility, but benefit from increased transparency. This promotes cooperation on the project and makes optimal use of the strengths of the various stakeholders. The contract for Siemensstadt Square was signed by the client Siemens Real Estate (SRE) and the partners Siemens Smart Infrastructure (building services engineering) by Aukett+Heese (object planning), ZWP (technical building services planning), Apleona Wolfferts (technical building services execution), Hochtief (structural engineering and outdoor facilities) and Lindner (façade and interior fit-out).
Cooperation Redefined
The multi-party contract came about within the framework of integrated project execution. While such cooperations are already established in Anglo-American countries, they are still considered pioneer projects in Germany – but are gaining in importance because of their extensive advantages. For this purpose, the project participants set common cost and schedule achievement targets, which are then precisely defined in a contract between the client, planner and construction contractor. Finally, all participants work on these goals jointly, equally and cooperatively.
Supported by the IPA coach Yukon Projects, the partners at Siemensstadt Square developed the foundations for the project even before the contract was signed. After clarifying the common values, a mission statement was signed in which openness, transparency and respectful and appreciative interaction function as core themes. Innovative and digital methods also play a major role in the process flow: Complex methods are optimised with the help of Lean Construction Management; the ongoing planning of the entire project runs via a data model – with all partners working on the digital twin of the future Siemensstadt Square.
