Trial lot 1 (which was in fact the second one) was completed in March 1996. The first keystone was positioned, the first entrance portal – portal C – was complete. For the first time it was possible to imagine the extent of work to come. A basis for all future tasks had been laid very quickly without overstepping the budget and in a quality that had not been thought possible. 

The keystone of the main vault could be positioned on 23rd May 1996. But numerous difficulties had to be overcome beforehand. Ashlars that were true works of art had to be replaced or included, particularly in the impost and crossing gallery sections. No planes were parallel and there were no right angles here. Most of the exposed surfaces were three-dimensionally curved. The stones were exclusively hewn on site and most required a lot of reworking. Furthermore, the outer part of the main basement for the west barrel vault, which was three metres wide and had not collapsed, had to be included. Only then it was possible to continue with the normal bond. Three basic forms of prefabricated vault blocks were laid on a falsework using the Gothic type of bond (two stretchers, one header in alternation).  

It was a memorable event when the basement vaults of the Frauenkirche were consecrated as the Lower Church by the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony Volker Kreß on 26th August 1996. The massive contemporary black altar stone erected in the centre of the Lower Church is impressive and open to various interpretations. Since its consecration, hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in religious services and guided tours, attended concerts, lectures etc.  

The next stage of construction work (lot 2) began in August 1996. An average of 15 m³ of sandstone per day were placed in November 1996, equivalent to approximately 45 palettes or four trucks with trailer. A huge number of transport, handling, interim storage and lifting processes was necessary. Winter proved a difficult time for construction work. The curing process of the lime-trass mortar requires a minimum temperature of +5 °C. The entire building was wrapped in tarpaulins. Heaters were installed and directed at the stonework. The ashlars and back-up blocks were stored in preheating tents at approximately +12 °C. Whereas work came to a standstill on other building sites due to the inclement weather, the ‘Frauenkirche Foundation Dresden’ was able to safeguard jobs.