What is your role in the Kokkola Sports Park Alliance?
I’m Head Designer, MEP Design. We’re a relatively broad team and each area has its own designer. MEP itself is quite a broad concept and areas include heating and air conditioning, plumbing systems, electrical engineering, automation, AV technology, refrigeration systems, sprinkler and energy production systems. My role is to coordinate the collaboration of that team of experts. On top of that, I also work with other design professionals such as architects.
What do you think about the alliance contracting model? Do you like it?
It’s really interesting. I most like the sense of community and that all perspectives are taken into account. The entire project team works together and since everyone has their own areas of expertise, cost-effective solutions are reached through cooperation. This means everything is customised specifically to the customer’s needs.
Have there been any challenges?
We’re still only in the initial phase, but the budget is being discussed. Costs have recently risen sharply because of the pandemic and war. The innovative energy system being designed is also very challenging. I would say, however, that this is more of a positive challenge, which is also both very interesting and important to implement because the project aims at low operating costs. There have been no issues as such.
Tell about some amusing mishap or other memorable event about the alliance
We had an introductory meeting with the project team at the very beginning of the project and the project manager demonstrated some judo there. I managed to break a rib bone there, but have since recovered a while and already feel better. Something else that I recall is that we have found a great place for lunch near our office – it’s called Herkku Hetki Kentala. It’s a cosy, old-fashioned restaurant and has become our regular lunch place. A visit there always makes a nice break in the working day.
How do you recover from a long working week?
Outdoor activities are very close to my heart. In my free time, I exercise: I ski in winter and I cycle and jog in summer. I also spend a lot of time outside with my dog.
Tell us something about the company you represent
This year, Granlund Pohjanmaa celebrates its half century. We have offices in Seinäjoki, Alavus, Kokkola and Vaasa. I myself live in Vaasa but now work also in Kokkola on a weekly basis. We are the largest player in the MEP sector in Finland and are well resourced. We currently have 75 persons working in Ostrobothnia and around 1,200 Granlund employees across Finland. We also have many experts in the industry around the world.
