MCI project: cost explosion and scandal around Schöpf and Mattle!

MCI project: cost explosion and scandal around Schöpf and Mattle!

The Management Center Innsbruck (MCI) remains the focus of the public discussion. The experienced tree manager Georg Malojer, who has over 40 years of experience in the industry, was commissioned to control the MCI project. Malojer not only worked with renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid and Jean Nouvel, but also praised the cooperation with Loudon, Habeler & Kirchweger, who are at the side of the project. In a look back at the events of summer 2018 when State Councilor Johannes Tratter (ÖVP) announced the demolition of the project, Malojer emphasized the cost increase of 70 percent at the time. However, this decision not only influenced the project, but also the political landscape in Tyrol.

While Tratter led the high costs as the reason for the project stop, the opposition rejected the reason and considered the expenses to be understandable. Some assumptions show that Tratter also had personal ambitions regarding the successor of Governor Platter. As a result, it turned out that the dispute over the costs was not only a financial but also a legal banter. The legal advisor of the MCI, Herbert Schöpf, blamed the architects for the planning defects that would have caused the cost. A lawsuit against the planners was announced, but never submitted. Instead, the state of Tyrol paid 500,000 euros as part of a comparison to the architects. Schöpf, who sees himself as a protector of the country, rejects the allegations that he intentionally made the project fail.

The complications in connection with the construction costs

The arguments related to the MCI project are not only financial in nature. Dominik Oberhofer, a Member of the NEOS, has heavily criticized Schöpf and sees him as the only profiteer of this Situation. A new award procedure that Schöpf prepared brought him into a key position when he received an order of 130,000 euros for the legal support of such a proceedings. However, he vehemently rejects the accusation that he had made capital from the misery. Nevertheless, the balance sheet profit of his law firm rose from 500,000 euros in 2017 to an incredible 2.6 million euros in 2024. A considerable increase that raises questions.

On the other hand, the new MCI campus was finally awarded to a working group of Porr and Ortner. With an order volume of 135 million euros, the project was put into the hands of experienced construction companies to ensure that the difficulties of recent years have not again appeared. In 2023, the construction department of the state of Tyrol estimated the costs for the entire project to a total of 250 million euros. This number again raises the question of how well the costs in this complex construction project are monitored and controlled.

cost management focused on

Effective cost management is, according to the experts, crucial for the success of construction projects. Continuous cost tracking and adjustments to the budget offer the possibility to identify exceedings at an early stage. Stakeholder communication also plays a crucial role. As can be seen on the page lcmd.io , all the financial aspects of a project should be constantly monitored and should be adjusted immediately in order not to comply with the desired quality Standards and not endanger.

While Governor Anton Mattle announced in December 2024 that the MCI project would not be pursued further, one calculates with court and comparison costs as well as the planning and work of external consultants who add up to an amount of 24 million euros. Mattle, on the other hand, plans to have the existing MCI locations renovate. There is already an expert opinion on cost savings, which, it seems, remains hidden. Schöpf should also be advisable here, which causes the expectation to be discussed on a further discussion about transparency and fairness in dealing with state funds.

The situation around the MCI project shows once again how important careful planning and effective cost management in construction are. In order to maintain high standards and keep projects in the budget, clear strategies and continuous communication are necessary. So it remains to be seen how the MCI will develop in the future - public attention remains. Further details on the topic can be found at tirol.orf.at .