On April 30, 2026, in Sofia, an international conference "Architectural Expertise and Mediation in the Construction Sector" was held, organized by ABCS. The event brought together architects, engineers, mediators, lawyers, brokers, and experts from Bulgaria and abroad around a common cause - introducing a higher construction culture, professional standards, and effective mechanisms for out-of-court dispute resolution in the construction sector. A special guest at the event was Arch. Dipl.-Ing. Lutz Heese - Honorary President of the Bavarian Chamber of Architects and Honorary Member of the Union of Freelance Architects in Germany. 

The conference was a conclusion to the training of architects in dispute resolution in the construction sector using expertise and mediation, based on established German practices and out-of-court dispute resolution in this field. During the conference, key topics such as the practice of the architectural profession, quality standards in construction, the role of the consumer in the construction process, out-of-court dispute resolution through mediation, and the interaction between all participants in the construction sector were discussed. 

Arch. Dipl.-Ing. Stoyan Todorov, Chairman of the ABCS Board, opened the conference, presenting a report that showed the results of the previous training and presented the German model for resolving conflicts in construction through independent technical expertise and mediation. Particular attention was paid to the topic of standards in construction. Arch. Diana Ilieva, a member of the ABCS Board, presented the work on adapting and introducing good European practices and standards in the Bulgarian construction environment. It was emphasized that the lack of current and widely accepted standards hinders both quality control and the protection of public interest. 

Adv. Sevdalina Alexandrova, a mediator with many years of experience, highlighted the importance of mediation as a tool for quick and effective conflict resolution. According to her, when the parties have competent experts and professional mediation, a large part of the disputes can be resolved within hours instead of after years of court proceedings. 

Arch. Dipl.-Ing. Svetlana Srebrova and Dipl.-Ing. Dimitrinka Nikolina, a member of the ABCS Board, presented a report that examined the place of the consumer in the construction process according to Bulgarian and German standards, emphasizing the importance of its correct positioning. The podium discussion related to the report sparked interest among the audience and reinforced the importance of clear and transparent relationships in the construction process. 

At the end of the conference, Arch. Dipl.-Ing. Stoyan Todorov awarded certificates to the trained professionals and announced the start of the activity of the first specialized center in Bulgaria for architectural consultations, expertise, and mediation (KEM), created at the initiative of the participants in the course. The center aims to support citizens, investors, designers, and builders in the event of disputes, offering professional expertise and mediation as an alternative to lengthy and costly court proceedings. The trained specialists will now be able to assist in finding balanced solutions that save time, resources, and unnecessary conflicts. This is an important step towards a more modern, effective, and sustainable construction environment in Bulgaria. The conference showed that the construction sector in Bulgaria needs a new culture of professional dialogue, transparency, and expertise, and can draw on good practices from Western European countries. 

The conference was organized under the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, project focused on the architectural guild in Bulgaria and the transfer of good practices from Germany, under the title: "Training for architects in resolving professional disputes with the means of mediation and expertise" (2024-2-BG01-KA210-VET-000292975).Sample text. Click to select the Text Element.