Rakennusliike Konttinen Oy is the Building Construction Industry Eastern Finland District Company of the Year 2025. A few months ago, the company was awarded in the Eastern Finland Occupational Safety Competition and the previous year it received the Kuopio Entrepreneurs' Entrepreneur of the Year award. There are recognitions, certificates and awards in the company's lobby for a long time. They tell of the company's tradition of doing the right things right and being commercially profitable regardless of economic conditions. It is noteworthy that the company's office is located on Mestarinkatu in Leväen, Kuopio.
The CEO is particularly happy and grateful for the recognition from his own industry Janne Pääkkönen According to the report, the recession in the construction industry has not left Rakennusliike Kontti out of the picture, as its turnover decreased last year.
"However, our result remained positive, but decreased from the previous year. Considering the situation in the industry and the national economy, it is a victory in the fight against the pandemic. Most importantly, we did not have to lay off or even dismiss our employees. This is very important because our personnel are our key resource. Competent employees and supervisors cannot be found again if they have to be let go," says Janne Pääkkönen.
“It is also important for the atmosphere and commitment that the personnel feel safe in their workplace. It also supports internal quality control. The same applies to presenting new ideas and taking initiative. We encourage the personnel to do so,” emphasizes Pääkkönen.
Sensible growth
He reminds us that Rakennusliike Konttinen has not set out to forcefully increase or even maintain turnover in the current economic climate.
"Competition in the market is fierce due to the scarcity of work, but we have been able to maintain a fairly steady workload in new construction and renovation. We have been spared the worst of the downturn because we do not have our own foundation construction, or groundwork, and we are not involved in housing construction in any way. It may become part of our strategy someday, when the housing market recovers and becomes more balanced, but not in the near future," emphasizes Pääkkönen.
KVR contracts and framework agreement practice work well
He considers one of the company's operational strengths to be its focus on collaborative KVR contracts. - We have had good experiences with them and many developers appreciate this operating model, as the contracts are not fragmented very widely from their perspective. In KVR contracts, planning and implementation remain better under control in terms of both schedules and costs, and corrective measures can be taken more efficiently. The framework agreement practice in contract procurement also works well for us.
Rakennusliike Konttinen is currently a company owned by six private shareholders. It was founded by Matti Konttinen in 1974 as an operator in the painting and surface renovation industry in Kuopio. The company changed from a limited partnership to a limited liability company in 1992. At the turn of the last decade, the name was changed to Rakennusliike Konttiseksi after the operations expanded to include renovation and new construction. The reason for keeping the surname was that Matti Konttisen's son Jussi Konttinen worked as the company's CEO. He is still a member of the board and the largest shareholder.
A few years before the construction industry recession, the turnover of the construction company Konttinen was almost 20 million euros, more than double the figure at the end of the 2010s. The company employs almost 70 people. Janne Pääkkönen and the work manager Erkki Hakkarainen Many have a long work history with the company. Hakkarainen is a good example of this with his 30-year career.
"The work culture has always been good in the company. Personnel have been valued regardless of job description. This is reflected in the retention power of the workplace and the company's image and attractiveness to the outside world. Although the need for new workers is now small, sometime in the future, when growth begins, it will be important to succeed again," Hakkarainen reminds.
According to him, the company's private ownership and locality are strengths, ensuring that you can walk carefree on the streets and in shops in broad daylight wearing a coat with the company logo.
Construction never ends
Janne Pääkkönen is turning his attention not only to the future of the company but also to the future of the entire building construction industry.
"I am a realistic optimist. The recession will not end this year, 2026, but the current situation will not last forever. I hope that the financing situation for renovation projects in particular will ease, because the building renovation debt has started to grow rapidly. That is not good for anyone," says Pääkkönen.
Pääkkönen moved from a managerial position in public administration to the management of Rakennusliike Konttinen in 2019, when the construction industry was experiencing a strong upswing.
"I believe in the future of the construction industry, because society, companies and citizens always need it. Artificial intelligence, major crises, climate change or other upheavals have not stopped and will not stop construction," Pääkkönen sums up.
Public reference projects of the construction company Konttinen in recent years include:
- Sinikello kindergarten in Kuopio
- KYS Puijo Hospital construction site
- Expansion of Länsi-Puijo School
- Kuopio Facility Services warehouse
- Renovations to Joroinen and Maaninga churches
Text: Ilpo Lommi