German Engineers Putting Blemish on Reputation?

According to an article, German engineers are struggling to keep their heads above water as problems are continuing to arise in multiple cities throughout the country in regards to major architectural developments. Recently the public has been feeling worried and slighted as budget costs rise and time is being added on to projects all across the country.

In Hamburg, The Elbe Philharmonic Hall situated in Europe’s second largest port has been a very real image of these worries by local Germans. With a budget of approximately $325 million and a deadline to be completed by 2010 the still unfinished building has now been re-budgeted to now be finished by 2017 with a cost of an estimated $1 billion, assuming everything goes to plan.

History has shown Germany to be an export powerhouse with companies such as BMW solidifying these claims. However, with a series of engineering failures the country’s reputation for efficiency and speed may now be negatively affected.

There are other areas in Germany struggling to swim as well. The Berlin-Brandenburg Airport, originally budgeted to cost $1.6 billion and completed by 2007 has already cost over $4.3 billion with no sign of an opening date in the near future due to issues with the fire safety system that no expert has been able to fix.

Stuttgart, with plans to complete a underground, high-speed railway has already taken their budget from $6 billion to over $8.8 billion which is only preliminary as local opposition and unthinkable engineering woes put the ending cost up in the air.

Many people are not so sure the Germany’s engineers are truly the ones at fault. Some have the politicians directly to blame. It’s not difficult to see this side. Many state officials have lowered budget estimates and moved up project completion dates in order to receive approval for the projects and therefore votes. With the combination of budget and completion missteps it is understandable for the engineering failures.

It appears to many that the issue is not one of engineering but one of management as contractors and politicians have wrestled back and forth on deadlines, budget, and working conditions.

Those in Hamburg are still optimistic that the amount of money put into the Elbe Philharmonic Hall will be worth it. With an evergoing art and performance culture locals press on to see it finished. Being the Birthplace of Felix Mendelsohn and Johannes Brahms tradition has been rooted in Hamburg for centuries. With such a history and tradition it appears Hamburg residents will simply wait. Regardless the cost.