From A for Acquisition to Z for Civil Engineer—everyone on our team shares a passion for construction, design, and architecture. In our “CUUBUUS career” series, employees share insights from behind the scenes. This time: Our colleague from the Construction Supervision / Construction & Project Management department talks about construction supervision, quality assurance, and the diversity of this profession.
In today’s episode, we’re talking with
Paul Tangerner, Construction & Project Manager
For anyone outside the industry who might not be familiar with terms like “ÖBA”—could you explain what exactly your responsibilities as a “local building inspector” entail? Do you essentially supervise and monitor the work on the construction site around the clock, or how should one picture this?
On-site construction supervision (ÖBA) includes the services of construction monitoring and coordination, schedule and cost tracking, quality control, invoice verification, processing of claims for additional and reduced costs, takeover and acceptance, identification and resolution of defects, and documentation during the phases of construction preparation, execution, and project completion.
When and how did you end up at CUUBUUS? What do you think makes the company stand out?
I was introduced to CUUBUUS by the site manager of a project at the time.
I had previously worked for a German construction company, and after completing a major new-construction project near the Grüner Prater, I had the opportunity to work on one of the most prestigious renovation projects involving the addition of an attic floor in the 1st District: the Palais Schottenring.
What sets CUUBUUS apart for me, above all, is that I’m not just seen as an employee, but am also given opportunities to grow. In my case, this took the form of support during my apprenticeship. At the same time I started working at CUUBUUS, I also began a part-time degree program in civil engineering at FH Campus Wien. Throughout my studies, I was always able to take time off for exam weeks.
For my recent master builder’s exam, after consulting with management, I was able to devote myself entirely to exam preparation for six weeks. Of course, something like this is only possible with—and thanks to—dedicated colleagues who are willing to help shoulder the workload during this time.
May I ask what kind of training you completed? Is that a requirement for your current position, or is it possible to break into the field through other means? And aside from technical knowledge, what interpersonal skills are essential for this job?
I began the building construction program at the HTL in Krems and took the vocational matriculation exam in Mödling. I then decided to pursue a part-time degree in civil engineering at FH Campus Wien, but I dropped out in the fourth semester and switched to a preparatory course for the master builder’s exam.
In my opinion, it’s always possible to make a career change into the construction industry, since there are so many different areas of work and opportunities. You should generally have an interest in technical matters and—something that’s very important to me personally—a certain amount of common sense and social skills for interacting with project stakeholders.
A project like this takes some time, after all. What part do you personally find the most exciting? Or are you involved from start to finish?
For me, every phase of construction is exciting in its own right and presents its own challenges… it’s the variety that really makes it special. At the start of a project, you mainly work in the office to estimate costs and prepare the project. During construction, you spend 50% of your time in the office and 50% on the job site. In later phases of construction, this balance will shift more and more toward the construction site, and toward the end—during the handover to buyers or tenants and as part of the defect rectification process—you’ll be primarily on-site to coordinate and supervise the work.
Are there any downsides to this job? What is the most fulfilling aspect of your work?
There aren’t really any downsides in the strict sense—I personally really enjoy the job. However, you have to be able to handle a certain amount of stress; being a healthcare administrator is definitely not a “9-to-5” job.
From a buyer’s perspective: What are the key things to look out for, what are the pitfalls, and what advice would you give to prospective buyers?
Above all, you should pay attention to the materials used and read the fine print in the manufacturer’s maintenance and care instructions. These instructions state, for example, that windows, air conditioning systems, or filters must be serviced once a year in accordance with the standard in order to maintain the warranty.
In your opinion, how has the housing sector—or the project development and real estate industries—changed over the past ten years?
Based on my professional experience over the past six years, I can say that, unfortunately, the quality of work performed by companies on construction sites is getting worse and worse without supervision, and that a site supervisor has become indispensable as a quality assurance tool.
Furthermore, the number of special requests and buyers’ desire for customization has increased enormously, which makes managing the construction process considerably more challenging for us as contractors. But that makes it all the more rewarding when we’re finally able to bring our clients’ very specific visions to life exactly as they envisioned 😉
How do you think we’ll live in the future?
I think that smart homes and all aspects of sustainability will play an increasingly central role. This starts with the production of building materials, continues with the resources used, and extends to the actual design of the building.
And your personal closing remarks—what else would you like to share with your readers?
The construction industry is so diverse that there’s something for everyone, career-wise. It never gets boring 🙂
Thank you very much for these fascinating insights!
