What is your role in the Kokkola Sports Park Alliance?
I’m Alliance Project Manager and head the alliance team in the design and construction of the sports park complex. In the initial phase, the ”zero phase”, my job is largely to prepare drafts and a budget with the team. When we move to phase 1, we will design a hybrid arena and phase 2 will be the actual implementation. In other words, I coordinate various organisations and people in different phases.
What do you think about the alliance contracting model? Do you like it?
I think the alliance model is a really good form of contracting, especially where large, complex and more challenging buildings are involved, the kind of projects that aren’t exactly built every day. The best thing about the alliance model is that we have experts from different fields in one and the same team. We all think together about what the best, most effective solution from each perspective would be and compare various criteria. The alliance works well.
How does the alliance model differ from your earlier projects?
I’ve been working in alliance projects over the past four years but compared to my earlier projects, the alliance model is rather different. The point here is that we’re all seated around the same round table and in the same team. We solve problems together. This is where the alliance model is worth its salt and helps projects to move forwards.
Have there been any challenges?
There’ve been no major challenges, but of course the world situation can always shake things up. No-one can know what lies ahead in the next month or even six months. The schedule for the initial phase was also tight, but we managed to meet it just by completing tasks within the time agreed and by actively keeping track of the situation.
How do you recover from a long working week?
I recover from long working weeks by doing something completely different to working between four walls. I do various outdoor things, especially during the spring and summer. I often like fiddling around with things.
Tell us something about the company you represent
I’m based at YIT’s Kokkola office, where we have a unit of just under 10 people. We have a really great team. We are part of the Ostrobothnia unit, which also includes Vaasa and Seinäjoki. Nowadays, our large unit also covers Oulu and Lapland, which means we operate over a really wide area. I myself have been here in different positions for almost 23 years. During my career, I’ve been involved in many different projects.
