SGE Consulting Engineering & architecture office

Once the initial discussions have been held with the client and the financing of the project has been clarified in principle, the next construction phase is the preliminary planning. An initial concrete design (planning concept) and a cost estimate (cost estimate) are prepared by the architect.

As soon as the cost estimate has been approved by the client, the preliminary design is developed further. The model is now fully created and planned. During the design planning phase, urban planning, design, social and legal requirements are also incorporated into the planning. The aim is to create a coherent and feasible planning concept that takes all project-specific problems into account.

The approval planning follows on seamlessly from the results of the previous phases. The previous drafts are used to apply for approval of the construction project. The architect packages the results of the preliminary design into plans that are ready for approval and meet the requirements of the building authorities. The application for the construction project is submitted with the forms, calculations, and construction plans required by the authorities.

The architect further elaborates the results of the previous drafts in close cooperation with specialist planners and prepares an exact calculation of all required quantities of building materials (mass determination). These quantities serve as the basis for preparing the specifications (tender documents).

During this construction phase, preparations must be made for awarding contracts to the individual contractors. At this stage, all tender documents are compiled, discussions are held with specialist companies and cost estimates are obtained.
The trades are divided into service packages for this purpose. For example, the “roofing work” trade may include roof covering and roof waterproofing. The necessary contracts with specialist companies will also be prepared by the architect.

These service specifications are then sent to the companies in the individual trades. Bills of quantities are tender documents in which suppliers enter their prices for the individual items. The fact that all invited bidders receive the same bid documents means that a direct comparison of bids is possible without restriction.

Generally referred to as construction management, this construction phase represents the most extensive area of responsibility for the architect. First, a construction schedule is drawn up. This schedule describes the time frames of the companies carrying out the work and their dependencies on each other. The completion date is also set. In accordance with this schedule and the deadlines specified in the construction contracts, the architect instructs the companies and checks their performance results.

Project management in construction has nothing to do with construction management or construction supervision. This service phase includes a site inspection after completion of the building to identify defects. The central tasks here are compliance with limitation periods, monitoring the rectification of defects and cooperation in the release of security deposits.

Office buildings have stricter fire and thermal insulation requirements than residential buildings. As a planning office, we also take care of design, thermal insulation, statics, fire protection, and technical building services planning. This is to offer you the perfect working environment with low operating expenses after implementation, and at affordable planning and construction conditions. This strengthens your competitiveness and retains staff in your company if the workplace is designed to be sustainable and comfortable.

In addition to residential and office construction, we have a wealth of experience in hall construction, both in the renovation of existing halls (e.g., Dynochrom bouldering hall in Frankfurt East or the Kraus paper factory in Hasselroth) and the planning and implementation of new industrial halls are our passion. In this category, we strive to build energy-plus buildings that are not only self-sufficient, but also supply the neighborhood with green and sustainable energy.