THE FORMATION OF THE PROJECT COALITION

The history of the project and the market entry strategy of one of the major actors also influenced the way the project coalition was formed. The architectural design of Jean Nouvel had been a very important element that helped Galeries Lafayette initially to win tender process for lot 207. And it was of such importance for their plans in Berlin, that they could agree to retire from being owner of the site if only this design was kept. The Generalübernehmer (in this case CBC) is normally responsible for the design of the building too, had to accept the existing architectural plans of Jean Nouvel as a condition of undertaking on the project. But CBC did not intend to execute the building work themselves. Reflections on the cost side very soon led to the conclusion, that all work on site must be subcontracted. It was decided to hire a general contractor responsible for the structu-re, who then had to do all subcontracting for the trades on site. During the tender process for the execution of the project there had been a com-petitor to CBC, who had tendered for the role of the Generalübernehmer. This was the Austrian firm of Hofman Maculan, the third largest construction group of Austr-ia, and it was Maculan, to whom the structural works were offered by CBC, once the tender was decided in their favour. This may have been due to the personal relationship between one of CBC’s high ranking officials, and the owner of Maculan, but it was not unreasonable at all to give the works to them. While tendering, they had dealt with the de-tails of the project, so that they knew what the details of the project were; in any case, companies winning a tender often bring in their former competitors to take part in the work. Additionally Maculan had recently bought the East Berlin company of Ingenieurhochbau - formerly one of the biggest Baukombinat (state-owned construction trusts) in the GDR and Maculan had considerable experience of working in eastern Europe and in the former GDR, which at the time accounted for over half of their total turnover. It was the explicit strategy of CBC to join for their market entry in Germany with experienced partners, but not with German construction firms. So Maculan seemed to be a well selected partner for them, and they took the role as Gene-ralunternehmer. In formal terms this was as an Arbeitsgemeinshaft (consortium) of Hofman Maculan and Ingenieurhochbau (Interview 5/7/94). Taking the main works on site, all the other important trade contractors to whom contracts were given by CBC were also non-German. This was the case for the façade, given to the Italian firm of Permasteelisa, for the mechanical services (heating, air conditioning ) given to the Belgian company ABB Fleckt, and even for the electrical work, given to Clemessy from Strasbourg. Only for certain equipment trades like fire-proofing or lifts were German firms were engaged.