There is a lot of investment and construction going on in Cologne. Most of the projects are in one of the following three phases of construction.
In planning
What needs to be considered during planning? If construction is planned , the first step is to decide what the project will be based on. If something is being completely renovated, demolished, or if the limited open space is to be built on for the first time, certain procedures must be followed. Construction projects in the planning stage are first checked against a development plan. This plan specifies, for example, what types of use are permitted and how high the building density may be.
This means that many permits and review procedures must be completed before construction can begin. A current example of a conversion is the Laurenz-Carré. The old WDR site is now to be developed into an area with a hotel, apartments, and commercial premises. But here, too, questions arise as to when construction can begin and what hurdles need to be overcome before then.
Under construction
Projects under construction stand out! Projects under construction are usually the most visible, as almost everyone immediately notices the changes on their way to work or in familiar surroundings. Projects such as the I/D Cologne in Mülheim are gigantic construction sites that are almost impossible to miss. Residential and commercial buildings are being constructed in record time, which seems almost effortless in 2020 thanks to modern construction methods.
For large projects, visualizations are usually created in advance to give an idea of what the finished building will look like.
Completion
What happens after completion? When a project is completed, long checklists usually have to be worked through and checked before the new building can be considered ready for occupancy. Once this has been done, the space can be moved into. Last year, for example, Zurich Insurance moved into its new offices in Messe City. An office building covering approx. 53,000 m² had been under construction there since September 2016.
It is a long road to completing a construction project, and many hurdles must be overcome. However, construction projects such as those mentioned above are essential for the growth and appearance of a modern city like Cologne and offer new living spaces for companies and private individuals alike.
