Tapojärvi introduces new ‘relocatable’ site accommodation concept at Agnico Eagle’s Kittilä gold mine
Tapojärvi says it has introduced a new site accommodation concept featuring a relocatable small-house complex built on leased land in the immediate vicinity of Agnico Eagle Finland’s Kittilä gold mine.
Completed in December, the development represents a new type of solution for Tapojärvi. The site comprises six detached houses, each with four bedrooms, as well as a shared service building equipped with a sauna and a gym for employees. The houses were supplied by HAWO. The accommodation was taken into use in mid-December and is intended for Tapojärvi employees working at the site.
According to Tapojärvi’s Property Engineer, Eveliina Rousu, the project is a pilot that will be evaluated alongside the company’s other site accommodation solutions.
“This is a new model for us,” Rousu explains. “The houses are relocatable and can be moved if the service contract or the need for accommodation in Kittilä comes to an end.”
Previously, Tapojärvi employees working in Kittilä were housed several tens of kilometres away from the mine. Long daily commutes extended the working day and increased time spent driving. From the new accommodation, the distance to the mine gate is approximately 800 m, and the roadside sign directing traffic to the mine is visible from the house windows. The aim of the solution is to reduce daily travel between accommodation and the work site.
Rousu added: “Location was a key starting point for this project. Nearby accommodation reduces daily travel and makes everyday life easier.”
The Kittilä site accommodation consists of small detached houses designed for longer work rotations. Each house includes four bedrooms, a kitchen and living area, a shower, two toilets and a washer-dryer unit. The houses are furnished and intended for shared use by employees in accordance with shift arrangements. The relocatability of the buildings adds flexibility to the lifecycle of the properties. Rather than being permanently tied to a single location, the houses can later be utilised at other sites.
The Kittilä project is part of Tapojärvi’s recent investments in construction and property, aimed at responding to a growing workforce and the needs of long-term worksites in different locations.
Tapojärvi’s Business Controller, Tuomas Tapojärvi, emphasises that future usability is a key consideration in property investments: “When we invest in properties, location is critical. The accommodation must be situated in an area where it can, if necessary, be sold or rented out in the future.”
The experiences gained from the relocatable housing concept in Kittilä will be used as Tapojärvi evaluates future site accommodation solutions at its various locations.
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