Maarakennus Niemeläinen Oy’s expertise spans projects from the reconstruction of Papinkatu in Joensuu to earthworks for the expansion of Valio’s Joensuu plant. Its work supports everyday life for decades to come and makes business investments possible. As the family business prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary, it continues to grow through careful planning and the contribution of its committed team. Looking ahead, it sees growth opportunities in data centre projects, green transition investments and new technologies.
In early December, Maarakennus Niemeläinen’s employees, partners and people who have helped shape its journey will gather to celebrate the family business’s 70th anniversary. Those decades have included construction projects across Finland, changing economic conditions and partnerships that have led to new contracts. For Managing Director Riku Alitupa, the anniversary reflects both past achievements and the ability to look ahead.
- Looking to the future has always been part of how we work. We have considered what we could do next and how to develop the company to secure its long-term future. We want to provide employment in the region and offer our expertise and services as widely as possible, Riku says.
Earthworks have become the company’s main line of business in response to market demand and customer needs. Through changing economic conditions, it has sought new contracts and directed its expertise to areas where construction services have been in demand.
Working with oil companies marked a significant turning point for Maarakennus Niemeläinen after the recession of the 1990s. The companies approached the business to ask whether it would be interested in contracts to replace service station fuel tanks with underground tanks. The first pilot projects took place in the late 1990s, and successful cooperation led to further contracts across Finland in the early 2000s. These projects helped the company recover from the effects of the recession and provided continuity at a time when construction activity in North Karelia was low. Long-term client relationships also made it possible to plan upcoming projects in advance.
Over the past 10–15 years, construction activity and investments in North Karelia’s development have provided plenty of contracts closer to home. Today, the company operates mainly in Eastern Finland, with individual projects also in Central Finland. Its clients include cities, municipalities and businesses whose projects require a broad range of earthworks expertise. These projects deliver reliable infrastructure and safe, pleasant environments for living, getting around and doing business.
Five years ago, Maarakennus Niemeläinen’s annual turnover was approximately EUR 3 million. In 2026, it is expected to exceed EUR 5 million. The workforce has grown from around 15 employees to nearly 20. Riku sees staff retention as one of the factors that have made this growth possible.
- The same core team has been with us for the past five years. That has enabled us to develop our operations and modernise our systems, Riku says.
For Riku, employee commitment and low staff turnover show that people enjoy their work and want to be part of the company. Observations and ideas from construction sites are discussed together and used to improve working practices.
The company also develops its expertise in cooperation with Ylä-Savo Vocational College. It has contributed to the development of the college’s infrastructure construction training, while online learning has made it easier for employees to study alongside their work.
Increasing quality and safety requirements, together with more extensive documentation, have required additional staff to manage these responsibilities. The company recruits new employees every year and supplements its own workforce with agency workers and summer employees during the peak season.
In summer, the company typically has three to five larger projects underway, alongside smaller projects for its partners. People, machinery and schedules are coordinated across its own workforce and partner network to ensure that projects meet the agreed quality standards and progress on schedule. The length of the construction season also affects the annual workload.
- We have grown steadily and made sure that growth remains manageable, Riku says.
The same careful planning guides investment in machinery. The fleet is renewed according to project needs and changing environmental requirements, with purchases spread over time.
Recycling has long been a priority for the company, and it continues to develop ways to reuse materials.
- Our choice of machinery and working methods can help reduce emissions. The materials we use and how far they need to be transported also make a difference, Riku says.
In Joensuu’s port area, Maarakennus Niemeläinen has built a six-hectare log storage yard for the city. It has also carried out civil engineering works for UPM’s log storage terminal, which uses a sprinkling system to keep the logs wet. These works were completed this autumn. At GreenPark business park, the company is currently carrying out groundworks for buildings under a contract commissioned by Joensuun Yrityskiinteistöt Oy. Its expertise has also been needed in the earthworks for the expansion of Valio’s Joensuu plant.
These projects create the conditions for industrial operations and business investment. Their impact also extends to the local business network: Maarakennus Niemeläinen works mainly with regional partners, sourcing specialist expertise from elsewhere when needed. Including subcontractors and partners, Riku estimates that the total number of jobs supported by the company is approximately twice the size of its own workforce.
Street reconstruction and municipal infrastructure renewal benefit the wider surroundings. The reconstruction of Keskustie in Liperi has improved the appearance of the centre and the environment in which local businesses operate. The company has also carried out smaller bridge repairs for the City of Joensuu.
The first phase of the Papinkatu reconstruction project, which began in May, was completed on November 6, 2026, leaving the street ready for winter maintenance. Delivered by Maarakennus Niemeläinen, the project improves traffic flow and renews urban infrastructure for decades to come.
Papinkatu reopened to traffic following the completion of the first reconstruction phase on 6 November 2026. Photos taken on 8 November 2026.
The renewed footway, red cycle lane and raised junctions make traffic arrangements clearer and improve safety near schools, Tiedepuisto and Mehtimäki Sports Park. The upgraded routes and street lighting create a more pleasant environment with a modern appearance.
Managing Director Riku Alitupa with a company employee at the Papinkatu construction site on October 13, 2026.
Below the street surface, the work has included renewing pavement layers, water mains, stormwater drainage, wastewater sewers and district heating pipelines. Separating stormwater from wastewater reduces the load on the wastewater sewer network and pumping stations.
Much of the work remains out of sight once a street is complete. Speaking about reconstruction projects in general, Riku explains that old concrete structures or large cast concrete elements may be found underground and must be removed before work can continue. No such discoveries were made on Papinkatu.
The condition of existing pipes and cables also calls for care. As a general example, Riku mentions electrical cables installed after the war, which can be damaged simply by handling them. On reconstruction sites, the location and condition of existing structures and utilities may require changes to plans, the sequence of work and access routes during construction. Site managers need experience and an understanding of the project as a whole to coordinate the work, deliveries and schedules of everyone involved.
- Planning ahead and responding quickly are important. Site managers need to see the bigger picture and find practical solutions when circumstances change. Our partners need to share that mindset: we solve challenges together and maintain the quality of our work, Riku says.
The same commitment to quality extends to the service life of the structures.
- A lifecycle approach guides our work with clients: the aim is for structures to last and serve their purpose for a long time. We listen to clients’ needs, contribute our own ideas for carrying out the work and develop solutions together. We ask for feedback to improve our operations and respond to any need for remedial work, Riku says.
At the Papinkatu site, Maarakennus Niemeläinen has tested how new technology could help create a digital record of underground structures, allowing them to be viewed clearly after construction is complete.
The aim is to explore how the method could simplify site documentation and the subsequent use of the recorded information. A three-dimensional model allows the site to be viewed from different angles. Riku is particularly interested in the possibility of examining the structures layer by layer in a 3D model captured during construction, even after backfilling is complete and the street is back in use.
- For us, the benefits we are looking for are mainly in documentation. The key is to identify applications where the recorded information serves both the contractor and the client. We are now exploring how extensively the method could be used cost-effectively and what kind of information clients need, Riku says.
Business Joensuu’s coaching programmes have supported Riku in leadership and business development. He began the Grow² growth coaching as a construction manager and became Managing Director during the programme. The coaching gave him tools to develop the company in his new role. The LEAD leadership programme and the Imagoo - Future Employer programme in autumn 2025 have further strengthened his understanding of people management and his role as an employer.
- The coaching programmes have always exceeded my expectations. They bring together entrepreneurs and managers from similarly sized companies who face many of the same issues. Talking with them provides practical examples, fresh ideas and different ways of thinking that you can apply in your own work. Other people’s experiences help you see familiar challenges from a new perspective, Riku says.
The programmes have formed a continuous learning journey, with each building on the last. Imagoo deepened Riku’s understanding of the expectations of different generations and how they approach issues. These insights are useful in managing employees, working with clients and cooperating with partners.
- Listening to employees and treating everyone fairly are important to me. As a manager, my job is to support our people and earn their trust, Riku says.
- Imagoo also explored how AI can support our work as an employer and help develop the business. It helped us clarify our vision as an employer: what kind of employer we want to be and what it will take to get there. We will continue developing our employer image this coming winter, Riku says.
Business Joensuu’s recruitment support has also helped the company find the right people for key roles, forming the team it has today.
Maarakennus Niemeläinen seeks growth opportunities by following market demand and exploring new technologies. New services are also being considered, with methods and costs assessed before decisions are made.
- I see data centres as one opportunity, because their construction requires extensive earthworks. We are not yet involved in data centre projects, but our expertise and specialist machinery would be useful if the projects planned for North Karelia move into construction, Riku suggests.
An increase in construction activity and the green transition could generate further demand. According to Riku, seizing these opportunities means making the right choices about where to focus the company’s expertise, investment and development efforts.
An important goal for the coming years is to reduce seasonal fluctuations in workload. The company is looking for new-build projects that could provide more work during the winter months.
- We are developing our operations so that we can offer our employees work as consistently as possible throughout the year, Riku says.
Riku values Joensuu’s sense of community and the city’s willingness to improve the conditions for business. In his view, investment, infrastructure maintenance and reliable services make the city more attractive to businesses and residents alike.
- I think Joensuu supports businesses well. The city is willing to invest, repair and develop. New businesses have moved into GreenPark, and Joensuun Yrityskiinteistöt helps companies bring their premises and investment projects to fruition, Riku says.
Riku would like to see more industrial activity in the region. The impact of industrial investment reaches beyond individual projects: during construction, it brings contracts to local businesses and their partner networks, as well as work for skilled people in the region.
For Riku, the reward comes when a shared project is complete and the value of the work becomes visible.
- A successful outcome is rewarding when the whole team has worked together to achieve it. It is great to work on projects that benefit society and have a lasting impact, Riku says.
Further information:
Maarakennus Niemeläinen Oy
Riku Alitupa, Managing Director,
+358 50 414 6554, riku.alitupa@maarakennus.net
Text: Tanja Immonen, Business Joensuu
Photos: Business Joensuu
Main image: Riku Alitupa at the Papinkatu reconstruction site in Joensuu on October 13, 2026.