In the alliance model, the client, the designers and the contractors are combined into one organisation.
The parties to the alliance plan and implement the project together, sharing the risks and benefits. All parties to the agreement are committed to openness and aiming for authentic co-operation in a manner where everyone profits and loses together. The commercial alliance model combines the objectives of the various parties into a single objective to avoid conflicts of interests.
In the Jokeri Light Rail Alliance, the client, meaning the consortium of the Cities of Helsinki and Espoo, have first invited the designers to tender as one group, and second, the contractors and other system providers as another group. The designer for the project is a consortium formed by Ramboll Finland, Sitowise and Sweco, and the contractor is a consortium formed by YIT Finland and NRC Group Finland. After making choices based on the tenders, the client formed an alliance with the selected service providers.
The project alliance is executed in a development phase and a implementation phase. In the development phase, the contractual parties develop and plan the project and its implementation method. After this, the client will decide on the investment and the transition to the implementation phase. The development phase of Jokeri Light Rail started in late 2017. The project is estimated to move on to the implementation phase in 2019.
The cooperation is facilitated by the alliance’s coworking space, Big Room in Pitäjänmäki. Working in a shared space will diminish the boundaries between the organisations and promote the idea of working as a united alliance.