Lemminkäinen has announced that it will develop a care facility made of timber for the City of Pudasjärvi, in Northern Finland, using the PPP model.

The construction will start in November, and the building will be taken into use in late 2016. The total value of the project is approximately €12 million (US$12.9 million).

The contract includes planning and executing the building. The timber building will consists of 54 apartments of sheltered housing with 24-hour assistance with their utility spaces. Lemminkäinen will also be liable for the maintenance, upkeep, user services and basic renovation investments during the service contract period of 20 years. The timber is supplied by the local subcontractor Kontiotuote.

Pauli Mäkelä, Executive Vice President, Building construction, Finland at Lemminkäinen, stated:

"The Pudasjärvi project is our first care facility contract executed with the PPP model, bringing along new types of interesting challenges as 24-hour care services are offered in the building every day of the year. The project is also a natural continuation to our Pudasjärvi timber school PPP project that is currently under construction."

Eero Talala, Technical Director at the City of Pudasjärvi, commented:

"The target of new sheltered housing with 24-hour assistance is to improve the well-being and safety of the elderly living in the care facility. The timber structure was chosen due to its high indoor air quality, environmental friendliness and comfort, and the PPP services offered by Lemminkäinen ensure that the city does not need to worry about the maintenance of the building."