The foundation act - what it contains and how to prepare it

The foundation act (in Polish, akt erekcyjny) is a ceremonial charter that commemorates the start of construction. It is read aloud during the cornerstone ceremony, signed by the principal participants, then rolled or folded, placed in a sealed capsule or tube, and embedded in the foundations of the building. From that moment it becomes a hidden time capsule, intended to be discovered only if the structure is ever rebuilt or demolished.

Its value is symbolic rather than legal. The act does not replace permits, contracts or any official paperwork; it is a token of intent and a record of the people and moment behind the project. Because it may not be read again for decades or even centuries, clarity and durability matter far more than length.

A well-formed foundation act follows a recognisable order, moving from a formal heading down to the signatures and a closing line. Each part has a job: to name the project, locate it in time and place, and identify the people responsible for beginning it.

The skeleton below shows the standard structure. Treat it as a template rather than a fixed script - the wording can be adapted to the tone of the event, but the elements themselves should all be present.

The opening formula sets the tone. A typical phrasing reads: "On this day, [date], in [place], we, the undersigned, hereby lay the cornerstone for the construction of [project name]." Keep it in the first person plural and the present tense, as if the signatories are speaking together at the moment of laying the stone.

For the body, state facts plainly: the project's name and purpose, the investor and contractor, and the names and titles of the people present. Close with a dedication - for example, "May this building serve its community for generations to come" - followed by the place and date repeated above the signature block. Avoid cramming in slogans, technical specifications or financial figures; the act is a commemoration, not a brochure or a contract.

The foundation act should be written in a formal, ceremonial register - full sentences, no abbreviations, no casual phrasing. Spell out dates in words where possible and give people their full titles. The voice should feel timeless, since the reader may belong to a very different era.

Print the act on high-quality, archival or acid-free paper so the text survives sealing and long storage; calligraphy or a classic serif typeface suits the occasion. Where a project involves foreign investors or partners, prepare a bilingual version - the original language alongside a faithful English translation, laid out in parallel columns or on facing halves of the sheet - so every signatory can read and stand behind what they sign.

Most problems are easy to prevent. The frequent ones are an incorrect or incomplete date, a misspelled name or title, a missing signatory who was meant to sign, and a tone that drifts into marketing language. Equally damaging is poor production: ordinary printer paper, smudged ink or a capsule that is not properly sealed against moisture, all of which threaten the document long before anyone reopens it.

Build in time to proofread the act against an authoritative list of names and titles, and confirm the final date once the ceremony is firmly scheduled. We prepare and produce foundation acts as part of organising cornerstone ceremonies, including bilingual versions; the service is priced individually according to the scope of each event.