NCC utilizes Nordic expertise in local projects
NCC is building a swimming hall in Linnanmaa, Oulu, and since swimming halls are rarely built in Finland, with the first steel pools in Northern Finland being installed, practical experience has been sought from Sweden to ensure proper methods for using steel pools.
Steel pool construction is not yet common in Finland. However, two similar NCC projects in Sweden were found: the ongoing swimming hall in Filipstad and the completed Säffle swimming hall from 2019. In Oulu, the same suppliers as in Säffle will be used, making Swedish experiences in pool construction and maintenance very important.
In Finland, swimming pools have primarily been constructed with tiled concrete structures until recently, when steel pools began gaining popularity. NCC has more experience building steel pools in Sweden and other Nordic countries, which made the pool construction the main focus, says Jari Rautakoski, project manager of Linnanmaa swimming hall.
Building swimming pools requires great precision
NCC strives to ensure the best work practices based on current information, following plans and documentation closely. The company has a vast accumulated knowledge and experience bank from the Nordic countries and constantly encourages employees to share and utilize this information in the best possible way.
"It has been fantastic to see how the strong expertise and commitment to achieving common goals is visible in the work of both old and new NCC employees, as well as our subcontractors on the construction site," says Rautakoski happily.
Why then was the decision made to gather information by visiting Sweden for this swimming pool project? According to project manager Jari Rautakoski, the difficulty in constructing swimming pools increases slightly due to the complexity of the project.
"The precision of the structures, special materials, complex technical systems, and the requirements of future swimming hall conditions challenge us daily. Preparation and curiosity about these themes are crucial to making informed decisions in this somewhat unusual construction project."
How are experiences transferred from one construction site to another?
On the Swedish swimming hall construction site in Filipstad, Finnish employees followed the progress of the project through photographs and observed the installation of the steel pool on-site.
"It was really interesting to see the installation of the steel pool and the coordination of the project's tasks, especially in the pool and technical areas," says construction engineer Niklas Heikkinen.
At Säffle swimming hall, the technical staff presented in detail how their facility operates. The Finnish engineers carefully documented aspects that should be considered in the Oulu swimming hall project to ensure the success of the construction process.
There are also minor differences between the countries' regulations, so not everything can be directly transferred to Finland.
"However, I believe that by thoroughly examining and developing details, we can reach a point where the construction solutions that have been successful in Sweden can be applied here in Finland, almost unchanged," says project manager Rautakoski.