Tiroler Tageszeitung, editorial from February 20, 2023. By Peter Nindler: "The MCI needs master builder Bob".

Innsbruck (OTS) – With “Listen, who’s hammering”, the new management center in Innsbruck will not be built in 100 years. Now, with a realistic cost estimate, the ship should finally be clear and not skimp on quality.

The new building of the entrepreneurial university MCI in Innsbruck literally stretches like chewing gum. The taste is becoming more and more bland. It’s a messed up story that started in 2008 with a master plan. Since then, politicians have been making serious mistakes, now everything is obviously being made worse again.
First of all, the new building of the MCI, which is currently spread over several locations, was calculated on a small or nice scale. The originally estimated sum of 80 million euros plus a 15 percent cost increase range could not be maintained. That was already clear after the architectural competition at the end of 2016. But those responsible in the city of Innsbruck and in the state of Tyrol have remained silent. In mid-2018, then building construction officer Hannes Tratter (VP) pulled the emergency brake. A projected cost explosion of 135 to 150 million euros was feared. However, the political command “Back to the start” was followed by controversial discussions that continue to this day.
Anyone who believed that the MCI would be cheaper now quickly realized that this was not the case. After all, the new building should not be finished until 2024, and on the other hand not much has changed in terms of the spatial requirements. The 135 million euros set in 2019 are therefore reminiscent of a political price that the black-green state government at the time tried to justify with more realistic assumptions.
At the beginning of 2023, politicians and those responsible at the MCI are faced with the same dilemma as in 2018. Galloping construction costs and renewed delays are driving up the cost estimates, with internal talk of up to 170 million euros. At the same time, the 135-million-euro corset narrows the perspective, the dispute between builders (state of Tyrol) and users (MCI) is becoming increasingly relentless. Everyone digs into the still virtual excavation and can’t find a way out.
There is only one question to be answered: was the upper limit of EUR 135 million for ARGE Porr/Ortner as general contractor set after the award in the competitive dialogue or not?
If so, the risk lies with the entrepreneur, if not, a new cost forecast should be put honestly on the table and the vanity fair ended quickly. If you save on quality in the short term, you will pay more later. The responsible deputy governor Georg Dornauer (SPÖ) is required more than ever. As the political builder Bob, so to speak. “Listen, who’s hammering” must finally be over.