In the coming years, Raitinkartano, a new residential and commercial building commissioned by the Seafarers’ Pension Fund, will be constructed in the commercial centre of Tapiola. An alliance model is being utilised during the project development and execution phase, and Granlund Oy is responsible for designing all of the building services for the project.
”Raitinkartano will be completed by 2020, located among existing buildings and by the Ainoa commercial centre,” says Granlund Oy’s HVAC Group Manager, Peter Malmström. ”As the environment and logistics solutions dictate a great deal about how the project can be executed, it is important to design the building in cooperation from the very start. Under an alliance implementation, the development and design process is carried out in close collaboration. There is a good team spirit on the project, and the participants are open to new ideas. Everyone feels comfortable discussing things openly and making suggestions.”
The client encourages collaboration
It is well worth utilising an alliance model during the development phase, as it is easy to reap the rewards of successful design during the construction phase.
”We completed our first alliance project a year ago, and I decided that future projects would also be executed by alliances,” says Matti Jokinen, Project Manager from the Seafarers’ Pension Fund. ”When the designers and contractors are involved in the development phase, we can put top expertise from various fields to joint use.”
However, selecting an alliance model is only half the job.
”The success of an alliance depends on how people can work together,” Jokinen states. ”The client must also be present, specify the targets and incentivise participants to consider what would be best for everyone. It is also necessary to find people who are suited to this operating model. The alliance participants must not be afraid to fail, and they must be prepared for their decisions and choices to be questioned.”
In an alliance, nobody makes decisions alone.
”It is not about votes or majority decisions – every solution is selected by working together. Joint responsibility involves everyone discussing things and presenting their own viewpoints. On my projects, we do not go looking for people to blame – we look for root causes, rectify problems and learn new things. At its best, an alliance enables self-development as well as collaborative development.”
The KOy Raitinkartano alliance involves Granlund Oy and Granlund Consulting Oy, as well as Fira Oy, Indepro Oy, Arkkitehtitoimisto HKP and Sweco Structures Ltd.
Read about the alliance implementation on the Raitinkartano project from the perspectives of principal contractor Fira Oy and Granlund Consulting Oy.
