Site manager Mika Kaskela is satisfied with the newly completed Mansikkala school center

The city of Imatra chose YIT as the contractor for the Mansikkala school center in March 2018. Mika Kaskela joined in September of the same year.

- Before that, the project had already been done earthworks, foundations and old-school demolition work, Kaskela says.

The job description of the site manager consists of, among other things, monitoring schedules and site events.

- My task has been to prepare and schedule the work steps and to choose together with the acquisition of our company subcontractors. The flow and management of the construction site was my responsibility. The work is done together with foremen, subcontractors and employees - a good team spirit moves things forward, Kaskela describes.

The school center project has required communication in many directions.

- The cooperation between the employees, as well as in the direction of the city and Mitra, has been excellent. The issues have always been resolved quickly, and the discussion we have had has been open and honest, Kaskela praises the cooperation.

Finland's largest wooden school is, as its name suggests, a huge undertaking

According to Kaskela, the project's scale and wood as a material have made the work area special:

- The project is by far the biggest I've been involved in. In addition, instead of the generally more typical concrete elements in the past, the wooden elements that dominate the school center have brought their own spice to the work.

The construction of the Mansikkala school center has been a big job, even in terms of employees.

- A total of 800 people have been introduced to the site. At the same time, around 120 people have been working there at their best. Most of our employees are from the surrounding area. The number of subcontractors and suppliers is between 150 and 200 people, Kaskela says about the workforce.

The site manager can be satisfied with the finished object. In Kaskela's opinion, the school center corresponds to what it should be:

- Yes, I like the end result. Both the facade and the interior were successful. I give points to architects for designing a large-scale object.

Now that the keys to the school center have finally been handed over to the city, the biggest work has been done. However, there is still something to do.

- There is, among other things, archiving of documents and making a final financial settlement with subcontractors, says Kaskela.

How does it feel now?

Kaskela is happy to leave the school center to the users arriving in the new premises, and hopes that the newcomers will be satisfied. It's thanksgiving time:

- The whole YIT Savo-Karelia unit would like to thank the city of Imatra for this opportunity. I'm glad we got the contract - after all, this is a special project in the area. I thank all the employees of the project, above all this was a collaborative effort, Kaskela sums up.

After a lot of hard work, the builders can pat themselves on the back - Kaskela tells about the final plans:

- As a work group, we go to the sauna and wash away the dust from Mansikkala in Saimaa, celebrating the completion of the project.