The construction site of the renovation of the Main Building of the University of Helsinki has been named the Construction Site of the Year, a significant award in the Finnish construction industry granted every year by Rakennuslehti magazine.
The grounds for awarding the prize state that the alliance model employed by the parties involved has been developed at the construction site into a model that increasingly comprehensively engages the site organisation as a whole. Further praise is given to the excellent project management, which has allowed this exceptionally challenging project to progress according to the schedule and budget. In addition to the factors stated above, the construction site of the Main Building renovation is also a thorough success in terms of technical solutions that adhere to conservation needs.
The renovation of the Main Building is carried out as a project alliance, with the University of Helsinki Funds, YIT Suomi Oy and Jeskanen-Repo-Teränne Arkkitehdit Oy as the partners. In the alliance model, the parties operate as partners, instead of the traditional set-up of main contractor and sub-contractors. At the Main Building construction site, the model has been developed so that the sub-contractors have been part of the alliance team from the development stage of planning. In fact, this collaboration has resulted in the coining of the term ‘partnership contractor’.
“Being named the Construction Site of the Year is a great achievement for this alliance project where collaboration between all parties has functioned exemplarily. Seamless cooperation is the key to being able to quickly solve questions arising in the middle of the project, utilising the resources of all necessary experts,” praises Jaana Ihalainen, director of properties at the University of Helsinki and chair of the alliance management group.
First stage of the renovation to be completed in autumn 2021
The renovation of the University’s Main Building commenced in summer 2019, with the purpose of ensuring that the facilities meet the current needs of students and teachers. In addition, accessibility, indoor air quality, and facility and fire safety will be improved.
The first stage of the Main Building’s renovation began in summer 2019 and is expected to last roughly two years in all. The Great Hall of the Main Building should be available for a conferment ceremony to be held in May 2021, while the teaching facilities should be completed approximately at the beginning of the 2021 autumn term.
More detailed plans as well as a decision on the renovation of the new side on Fabianinkatu, the second renovation stage, will be made separately at a later date. All in all, the renovation of the Main Building is estimated to take five years.
The renovation is carried out as a project alliance, with the University of Helsinki Funds, YIT Suomi Oy and Jeskanen-Repo-Teränne Arkkitehdit Oy as the alliance partners.
What did the construction site look like in the summer of 2020? Watch a video to see what the renovation entails.
Video: Markus Lintu and YIT Suomi