Interest in Integrated Project Delivery (IPD, also known as multi-party agreement or alliance model), is growing. The number of projects implemented using this cooperative model in German-speaking countries is still small, but the trend is increasing. As an early adopter, Burckhardt is currently planning an IPA project in Berlin.

Our Bern office took the great interest as an opportunity to bring together 40 stakeholders – clients, client representatives, developers, investors, lawyers, engineers, contractors, associations, project developers, as well as housing cooperatives and contractors – for an expert evening followed by an informal exchange.

Prof. Manfred Huber, Head of the Institute for Digital Construction at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, opened the evening with a presentation on the theoretical underpinnings of IPA. He has been concerned for decades about the declining efficiency in the construction industry, which IPA promises to overcome.

This was followed by a practical insight and initial assessment of our IPA project GBD 149 – a complex new building for the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing at the Adlershof science and technology park in Berlin. The IPA team there has just successfully completed the validation phase.

Gunnar Rekersdrees, Head of Planning at Burckhardt in Berlin, explained the selection process for GBD 149, which Burckhardt successfully completed, from a planner’s perspective. He emphasized how important and time-consuming it is for clients to find the right team partners for an IPA project.

Gerald Etterer, Business Unit Manager at Bayreuth-based Markgraf, which is responsible for the GBD 149 shell construction, gave an insight into the remuneration model and incentive system of the multi-party contract, in which all partners pull together instead of attacking each other with addenda and obstruction notices.

All speakers agreed that the values and mindsets of those involved are the most important basis for the successful implementation of an IPA project. They also shared the observation that younger employees have an affinity for collaborative working.

In addition to the objective of reconciling quality with cost and schedule in construction, the prospect of IPA projects also makes companies attractive to young, highly qualified specialists.

Those are good prospects!

Christof Goldschmid, Partner and Site Manager in Berne, thanks all guests for their visit and the interesting discussion.