Veidekke, the largest Norwegian construction company and the fourth largest in Scandinavia, has won the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract to build and operate Rykkinn primary school and Jessheim upper secondary school, both in Norway

The combined project cost is NOK950 million (US$152.1 million) excluding VAT. Veidekke will be responsible for building, leasing, operating and maintaining for 25 years.

Arne Giske, CEO and President of Veidekke, stated:

I am proud that Veidekke has won these two very demanding projects. These are two strategically important projects to us, as we view PPP as a market that will grow in the future.

Birte Almeland, PPP manager for schools with Veidekke, stated:

PPP projects are both challenging and exciting. They require good planning, but in return they provide predictable operation for the owner and good solutions for pupils and teachers who will be using the school.

The Rykkinn school project comprises a new primary school for 630 pupils from stages 1 to 7. The school will have a small sports hall and a comprehensive outdoor area well adapted to the existing terrain. The contract comprises demolition of the existing school, and the design and construction of a modern and future-oriented school. The school will be ready for the start of the school year in 2016. The contractual party for the PPP contract is Bærum municipality.

The new Jessheim upper secondary school will be established on what currently is the parking lot of the existing school north of the centre of Jessheim. The new school will have six branches of study for a total of 1,500 pupils and 240 staff. The school will have four storeys with a gross area of 25,374 m2. In addition, a new pedestrian and cycle path and bus parking lot will be built, as well as an external sports facility and a park in connection with the school. The existing school will be demolished when the new school is completed in the autumn of 2017. Akershus county municipality is the contractual party for the PPP contract.