Finnish developer YIT, which has been operating on the Polish market for over 10 years, wants to bring solutions to Poland that have been used in its home country for decades. In Finland, shelters are a mandatory element of residential buildings and public infrastructure, and their cost represents just 6-7 percent of total investment outlays. The company sees enormous potential in Poland not only in residential construction but also in the modernization of existing protective infrastructure and the construction of new dual-use facilities.
YIT is the largest Finnish construction company, employing more than 4,000 professionals across seven European countries. Its annual turnover reaches approximately 1.8 billion euros, of which 50-60 percent comes from contracts where the company works with clients to develop products with their own design. The remaining 40 percent comes from the residential business, where YIT builds homes for consumers. Today, 80 percent of these homes are built outside Finland, and this trend is set to continue.
Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group, emphasizes that the company has over 100 years of experience in the industry. Throughout this period, it has supported Finland’s industrialization after World War II, building not only homes but also infrastructure – from water and electricity supply to solutions for the mining industry.
– This was the period when the company focused on the future. Supporting Finland’s transformation after World War II, we were part of building a modern nation. We helped create vibrant, urban communities. We expanded our activities beyond contracting to include building our own homes, providing infrastructure solutions, constructing bridges and tunnels. We worked with the mining industry and erected industrial facilities – says Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
From decarbonization to data centers. New challenges for construction
In recent years, YIT has found itself at the forefront of the decarbonization agenda for many clients. The company has had to understand how to build in a way that is affordable and sustainable. The trends related to energy transition have not disappeared, even if they no longer dominate daily discourse.
– There isn’t as much attention paid to this in public debate today, but the trends haven’t disappeared. We still need to find ways to build societies that are accessible and well-designed – adds Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
Today, the company focuses on three main areas: digitalization (including data centers), urban solutions, and critical infrastructure security. In Europe, more and more people are moving to cities, which requires new solutions – not only within homes but also in public transport, logistics, clean water, and electrical systems.
Vuorenmaa points to the enormous potential in data center construction, particularly in Sweden and Norway. According to the Swedish Business Federation, approximately 20 billion euros worth of data center investments are currently underway or planned. Sweden attracts investors with its competencies, electrical grid, and access to new energy.
– Not all data centers will ever be built in a single country, because latency requires data centers to be located close to users. Right now we are seeing a sharp increase in demand in Norway. All the competencies and capabilities we possess, as well as the countries we are looking at, represent a huge opportunity for construction companies – says Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
Data center investments, however, involve more than just the server halls themselves. To operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they need sufficient power and appropriate electrical solutions. Much infrastructure must be built to generate energy, transfer it, and ensure operational continuity. Additionally, waste heat from data centers can be used efficiently – for example, to heat cities.
Finnish DNA: crisis preparedness and dual-use infrastructure
YIT comes from Finland, a country that has been preparing for crisis situations for decades. Vuorenmaa emphasizes that for the Finnish company, building with safety in mind is not about fear but about building readiness.
– This is part of our DNA – the way we create these things. There is a clear reason for it. It belongs to those elements that simply need to be built, but shouldn’t be talked or explained about too much. As a company, we have it in our DNA. We learned what requirements and standards apply when working in these areas. It’s a completely different system than any other – says Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
Finland has developed a model in which the private and public sectors are closely linked on security matters. The company is part of a comprehensive security system, prepared to provide support during crises and even slightly before they occur. Critical infrastructure is a key element.
Vuorenmaa points to lessons from Ukraine. The electrical grid built during Soviet times had many safety features – several lines supporting alternative energy transmission routes, which proved to be an extremely robust solution during the crisis.
– But it’s not just electricity. It’s clean water, it’s waste management, it’s everything that needs to be done when building these networks. How do you ensure they are prepared for normal times? And then come the facilities and places that can be used dually – both in times of crisis and in times of peace – says Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
Dual-use: an ice rink that becomes a shelter
YIT has a long history in Finland of building dual-use facilities. Vuorenmaa recounts his participation in an educational program in Finland, during which he visited about 20 locations over four weeks.
– Of those 20 places, I found the YIT logo in 18. That means some of them were built perhaps 60 or 70 years ago. It shows how deeply we are rooted in the development of this country and how long Finland has been preparing for this type of challenge – says Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
For YIT, dual-use means that buildings serve two purposes. For example, a residential building is normally used for storing motorcycles or strollers. Larger facilities can serve sports functions – soccer halls, gymnasiums, and even subway stations.
– Metro stations can be built in such a way that they are fully functional in everyday use, while also being able to be quickly closed and converted into real shelters, equipped with everything necessary – heating, water, and proper communication routes. This is how the entire system and the entire community were designed – explains Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
The company has been creating and building these solutions for several decades. Preparation and building of solutions and structures does not stem from fear, but from building readiness. All the same solutions that YIT learned to build can be used dually.
– In my own apartment, downstairs, we have a motorcycle garage where I keep my motorcycles, as well as winter equipment for the children. But it actually comes as a complete package with a shelter. You just close the door and you have a fully equipped shelter. This is how preparedness becomes almost an invisible part of society – adds Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
Poland as a key growth market. 15 percent annually outside Finland
YIT has a clear growth strategy for 2024-2029. The company wants to grow outside Finland by more than 15 percent each year. Poland, where YIT has been present for over 10 years, is crucial to achieving this goal.
Today, YIT is building its residential business in Poland, which is key and fundamental for the company. At the same time, YIT is the main constructor of data centers in Finland and wants to transfer this knowledge to Poland.
– We have gained enormous experience and knowledge in this area. We have developed preparedness and readiness, which over decades we have translated into the construction of schools, hospitals, and various solutions in Finland – our home country. Now we want to develop these operations beyond its borders – emphasizes Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
Central and Eastern Europe
YIT operates in Central and Eastern Europe across six countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The organization supports over 1,100 people across three business segments: residential, construction, and infrastructure.
– As a company, we made a decision 30 years ago to expand into the Baltic countries, and then into Central and Eastern Europe. This move was very strategic for us – it gives us balance and the ability to expand our operations – says the CEO of the CE segment, Justyna Filipczak.
Last year, YIT launched over 450 million euros worth of projects that will be completed in 2026. The company has approximately 13,000 apartments in its pipeline, which could generate potential revenues of around 3 billion euros in the future.
Poland and the Czech Republic are the most important markets for YIT in the region. Together, they account for more than 60 percent of the company’s markets in Central and Eastern Europe. Both countries have the strongest economies in the region, good access to EU funds, a strong institutional system, and many investments in infrastructure, protection, digitalization, and innovation.
– Poland is the largest, fastest, with a stable economy. The Czech Republic is experiencing a recovery due to a longer adjustment period, but this is changing prices. Over the past few months, it has been 170 percent in that particular market – explains the CEO of the CE segment.
Shelters in Poland
YIT wants to transfer to Poland the model of construction integrated with protective infrastructure. In Finland, shelters have been part of the national security system for decades and can provide protection for about 80 percent of residents. The company promotes the concept of dual-use, or buildings with two functions.
Leszek Stankiewicz, CEO of YIT Poland, declares readiness to cooperate with local governments on audits of existing protective infrastructure. Analyses show that approximately 75 percent of existing shelters can be adapted to modern requirements. Some facilities, however, require complete reconstruction or a change of function.
YIT is preparing to build Poland’s first residential building equipped with an S1-class shelter. The cost of constructing a residential building with a shelter is relatively small – it increases investment outlays by an average of about 6-7 percent. According to the company, this level allows the combination of safety functions with the economic viability of the project.
– In Finland, such solutions are common and result from years of building regulations. In Poland, they have yet to pass the market test – says Leszek Stankiewicz, CEO of YIT Poland.
Turnkey apartments and data centers. Diversification in the Polish market
YIT is also developing turnkey apartments in Poland. According to Stankiewicz, the Polish market is maturing towards the model known from Nordic countries, where buyers expect ready-to-move-in units without the need to organize additional finishing work. The company is already developing this solution in, among others, the Meri investment in Gdańsk, and its ambition is to make it standard in future projects.
At the same time, YIT is active as a general contractor for data centers. The company has enormous experience in this field from Finland, where it is the main constructor of such facilities, and wants to use it in the Polish market.
– We have been here for just over 10 years, so we have many more opportunities when looking at new alternatives. Today, we are building a residential business, which is key and fundamental for us, but at the moment we are the main constructor of data centers in Finland. I’m thinking about our position in Europe, which means we have created many opportunities and knowledge on this subject – summarizes Heikki Vuorenmaa, CEO of YIT Group.
For YIT, Poland is not only a residential market but also enormous potential in infrastructure construction, data centers, and shelter modernization. The company aims to be an even larger organization in five years, when it celebrates its 15th anniversary on the Vistula River.
Fot. YIT
