Planning and award of contract

The decision that the Reichstag Building should become the seat of the German Bundestag was primarily a political decision. It was preceded by a round of discussions held at the invitation of the President of the Bundestag and bringing together more than 300 historians, architects, politicians and publicists from Germany and abroad. There was a broad consensus among experts that, given the building's historical and future significance as the "heart of the Republic", simple restoration was not enough. Even a purely "cosmetic" restoration of this kind alone would have cost DM 200 million.

It was recommended that a competition for the conversion of the Reichstag Building be held. Of the 80 prominent architects who submitted plans, three were short-listed. Finally, the commission for carrying out the conversion was awarded to the British architect, Sir Norman Foster.

Costs

In planning and implementing his project, Sir Norman Foster is bound by the strict requirements that the project's total costs, including the dome, all incidental expenditure and fees, must not exceed DM 600 million. The finished building is due to be handed over to the German Bundestag in spring 1999. Over the project's four years, therefore, the annual contribution by each citizen will be two Deutsche Mark. Moreover, the entire project will be subject to the guidelines on economy and efficiency applicable to budgetary and economic management in all federal departments. Compliance with these guidelines will be monitored by the Federal Court of Audit on behalf of the German Bundestag.