The situation
Concert spaces, the Plaza, hotel, restaurants, apartments and extensive technical systems make the Elbphilharmonie an unusually complex building. It had already been operating for several years when the assignment began. Before major warranty periods expired, SPIE needed an independent assessment of technical problems: their causes, their implications for safety and operations, and the measures required.
Contribution to the project
From September 2020 to March 2021, Frank-Michael Adam worked for SPIE as an independent construction expert and Senior Advisor. Systematic inspections and a building-wide review led to more detailed investigations of individual technical issues. Alongside his own investigations, he reviewed existing technical records and independently assessed earlier expert findings.
Key areas of the assignment
- Examined fire-stopping systems and as-built records for technical and safety-related deficiencies.
- Analysed the causes of damage to 93 hotel showers and recommended remedial measures taking ongoing operations into account.
- Provided an independent second assessment of damage to the Plaza.
- Independently reviewed and compared existing expert opinions on electrical power quality and assessed their implications for the next decision.
The outcome
SPIE received an independent technical basis for assessing the identified defects and risks before key warranty periods expired, and for prioritising the next steps. For fire-stopping systems, the 93 hotel showers, the Plaza and electrical power quality, the assessment examined causes, implications for safety and operations, and available options. This supported decisions on remedial work and warranty matters while taking the building’s ongoing operation into account.