Topping-out ceremony for Partner Model project Hohenzollernpark II (Holzgerlingen)

The topping-out ceremony for the Hohen-
zollernpark Holzgerlingen development near Böblingen was celebrated on June 19, 2007. The building complex - which comprises a total of 32 owner-occupied apartments - was developed using a Partner Model offered by the BuildingAgency, a Drees & Sommer affiliate. In this model, the planners and contractors involved in the project - as shareholders of an implementation company - share in the success of the project. Over 90 guests, prospective buyers, client representatives, tradespeople and building partners - as well as representatives of the City of Holzgerlingen and neighbors - attended the ceremony.

The guests were welcomed by Dr. Jürgen Laukemper representing the investor Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft Wohnen im Hohenzollernpark II mbH & Co. KG, who praised the close cooperation on the project. Building in an existing neighborhood makes particularly high demands on participants with regard to logistics. "We are creating a high-quality residential complex with sophisticated architecture," said Laukemper.
The complex was a highlight for Holzgerlingen, said Mayor Wilfried Dölker, and occupied the last building site in the urban environment. Despite its high density, Hohenzollernpark offers an attractive residential area with pleasing architecture in the direct vicinity of the Schönbuch nature park. The Mayor said that the city council had supported the project from the very beginning and wished continued smooth and fast management on the building site. Mayor Dölker was clearly impressed with the layout display at the entrance. It shows the current status of construction and the next milestones. Construction process optimization ensures seamless efficiency and transparency for all participants.
Bernhard Unseld, Chairman of BuildingAgency, thanked the tradespeople and the seven building partners who jointly practice the philosophy of cooperative partnership. He also pointed out that a price increase of up to 30 percent in some trades can only be compensated by the right tools and methods. "Our task is to build efficiently and cost-effectively despite higher price levels. The highest goal of building is to ensure quality and sustainability."

Implementation using the Partner Model
Several medium-sized planning and construction companies under the leadership of the BuildingAgency came together to form an implementation company even before the contract was awarded. The partners built the complex jointly for the investor, Projektentwicklungs-gesellschaft Wohnen im Hohenzollernpark II mbH & Co. KG.

Guaranteed price under market level
Together with the client, the implementation company summarized the requirements for the building and developed a binding specification of the product. As a result of using various specialist competencies even in the earliest stages of the project and of synergies resulting from the project partnership, the BuildingAgency optimized planning and construction logistics workflows. This allowed the implementation company to achieve a sale price for the building that is 20 percent below the local market level. In addition to a guaranteed price - which precludes any supplementary claims - of some EUR 9 million, the client was given a firm handover date of end of 2007.

Selected companies as building partners
The Building Partner network comprises medium-sized companies that have undergone a preselection process and who have demonstrated their technical and economic strength. The BuildingAgency put together the network of Building Partners for this Hohenzollernpark project based on the special requirements of the project. In addition to becoming stakeholders in the implementation company, all Building Partners sign a Building Partner Code which puts the interests of the client first, ensures mutual respect on the part of Building Partners, good job planning and that the Building Partners will primarily use their own employees or long-term partners. This ensures a culture of partnership between all project participants that prevents uncontrolled additional costs and claim management that is otherwise commonplace in the industry.

Current status
The shell is complete. The investor is implementing the project for sale - and the first apartment was sold during the shell construction phase.

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