Senate Properties' Construction Manager Outi Hiltunen has been selected as the Construction Manager of the Year in North Karelia 2025.
"This came as a bit of a surprise.” Outi Hiltunen couldn't quite believe what he was hearing when he was informed that he had been awarded the 2025 Collaboration Builder of the Year award.
When you open a discussion with Outi about collaboration in construction projects, you can find in him exactly the characteristics that the North Karelia management team that made the selection also paid attention to in their justifications: a solution-oriented attitude and the ability to create a good spirit of cooperation. The award jury also praises Hiltunen's excellent expertise.
The essence of cooperation: an open atmosphere and common goals
Outi Hiltunen, from Joensuu, graduated as a civil engineer in 2010 and has worked in construction throughout her career. She has been the construction manager at the Senate for four years.
One significant project where Outi served as the construction manager, and where success could have had a decisive impact on the selection of the award jury, was the renovation of the Kuopio Courthouse. The Senate project was completed in January 2024. The project was a total of approximately 17 million euros, in which three different state administration actors received their own premises.
According to the Senate's construction manager, the core of a successful construction project is working together. When a project involves multiple parties, including the client, users, designers, contractors and consultants, all of their perspectives must be taken into account. "It is important to create an atmosphere where the project is perceived as a joint one, and where everyone has common, aligned goals. When the atmosphere is open and safe, everyone dares to voice their opinions," Hiltunen says. In his experience, the best results are achieved when everyone is pulling in the same direction and solutions are made together.
Hiltunen emphasizes that the prerequisites for success and the foundation for teamwork are created right at the beginning of the project. When an open, positive atmosphere and strong teamwork are built at the beginning of the project, it carries through the entire project. Collaboration flows smoothly and challenges are resolved more easily.
"Still, no one person alone can create a good atmosphere. It takes everyone involved in the project.”
The Senate Properties way of building – collaboration is key
Senate Properties, Eastern Finland Regional Director Pasi Haataja congratulates Outi Hiltunen on the recognition he has been awarded. Haataja is pleased that the Senate's determined work in recent years to develop operating models and intensify cooperation is now reflected in clear, positive signals.
"We swear by the power of good cooperation, regardless of the implementation model, because only with smooth cooperation and transparency can we succeed in using common funds cost-effectively and sensibly for the good of society,” Pasi Haataja emphasizes.
Senate Properties is responsible for the construction, renovation and maintenance of government facilities. Projects range from judicial and police institutions to research institutions and shared work environments. The goal is to build healthy, safe and cost-effective facilities that help our clients achieve more in all circumstances.
Collaboration is a key success factor in Senate projects. Alongside traditional contract models, a flagship project model and alliance implementation have been developed, in which the client, designers and contractors commit to common goals and share risks and benefits. The models promote transparency, schedule management and cost-efficiency.
The Senate invests in open partnerships and operating models that support shared work environments and safety-critical sites. Since the investments are large, working together is key to ensuring the success of the projects.
Can you develop your collaboration skills?
Construction projects are all different. There are always challenges, bigger and smaller. Cooperation must not fall into them. When asked if he had any advice or magic words for developing cooperation and improving the atmosphere in a construction project, Outi, after a moment of reflection, gives a tip: “Commitment to the project and its goals. It is important to create common goals for the project and commit all parties to them.”
“It is also good for everyone to show their own commitment by example.”
The Senate's construction manager considers it important to ensure that all parties feel heard, for example by involving them. "Authenticity and honesty create trust. Everyone brings their own touch to the project. Diversity is richness," he emphasizes.
"Then it is easier to raise even difficult issues to discuss together.”
The future of collaboration in construction
Outi Hiltunen sees a lot of good in the construction of this time. “The work is done with professionals.”
In his experience, construction is increasingly moving towards collaborative project formats, where contractors get involved in the project very early on and provide their expertise as the design progresses. “This reduces surprises and increases commitment.”
“Construction projects are successful when all parties are working towards the same goal. The contribution of each party is crucial,” summarizes the Construction Worker of the Year.
Text: Heikki Luukkonen