- Client: ZAUNERGROUP
- Industry: Industrial plant construction, piping systems, and technical building services
- Project location: Data center campus (VLB) in Skien, Norway
- Volume: Over 40 workers accommodated
- Length of stay: From two weeks to over a year
As large-scale data center projects continue to expand across Northern Europe, companies are facing growing pressure to mobilise and accommodate project teams quickly in locations where housing availability can be limited.
ZAUNERGROUP, the leading European provider of industrial plant construction, piping systems, and technical building services, encountered these challenges while working as a specialist contractor for the fit-out works of the data center project in Skien, Norway. Over the course of the project, Forenom helped accommodate over 40 project workers with stays ranging from short-term assignments to deployments lasting over a year.
The challenge: accommodating a rapidly changing workforce in a fast-moving project environment
Large-scale data center projects create unique accommodation challenges, especially when projects involve remote locations, international teams, changing workforce sizes and long project timelines. ZAUNERGROUP’s Skien project was no exception.
“The most challenging aspects of accommodating colleagues are the combination of budget, time, market availability and distance from the construction site. It is vital for the project that all of the above objectives are achieved while also meeting individual expectations regarding location, comfort and size,” says Marie Strassmayr, Team Lead Travel & Mobility at ZAUNERGROUP.
Flexibility and responsiveness were critical requirements when selecting an accommodation partner for the project. This became particularly important in situations where staffing changes happened on very short notice. Some employees stayed for only a few weeks, while others relocated to Norway for assignments lasting more than a year.
“For us, the most important criteria when choosing an accommodation partner are reliability, flexibility and naturally cost-effectiveness within the budget.“
In addition to accommodation availability itself, ZAUNERGROUP also wanted to simplify coordination and reduce the administrative workload connected to managing project accommodation across changing workforce needs.
The solution: creating a flexible accommodation model for project teams
In Skien, Forenom provided ZAUNERGROUP with a scalable accommodation setup close to the construction site that could adapt to changing workforce needs throughout the project. The focus was primarily on fully furnished, homelike apartments for single occupancy, complemented by shared options with private bedrooms.
A key part of the cooperation was Forenom’s local expertise and ability to respond quickly to changing workforce needs. Staffing situations frequently evolved on short notice, requiring accommodation arrangements to be organised within days rather than weeks.
“In our industry, flexibility is essential. Sometimes we get informed on a Thursday that a new colleague is starting on Monday. Despite this, solutions were always provided quickly and reliably,” Strassmayr says.
Behind this flexibility was Forenom’s long-term experience providing scalable project accommodation solutions, and local knowledge in the Skien area with an established network of local accommodation providers.
“Over time, we have built a strong local network of property owners and accommodation options in the Skien area, allowing us to respond efficiently to changing requirements while ensuring a comfortable stay for the guests. Together, we have focused on finding practical and flexible solutions that support both the project and the wellbeing of the employees,” Benedikte Nyberg, Account Manager at Forenom, explains.
During the project, Forenom successfully accommodated over 40 workers. According to Strassmayr, the feedback from employees staying in the apartments was consistently positive.
“Our colleagues were very satisfied with the accommodation. The quality, location, and overall handling met their expectations and contributed positively to their overall project experience.”
The results: reduced administrative workload and improved workforce wellbeing
For ZAUNERGROUP, the cooperation with Forenom delivered value beyond accommodation availability alone.
Having a reliable accommodation partner with dedicated contact persons helped reduce the amount of time and administrative effort spent coordinating housing arrangements for employees. It also simplified day-to-day communication and helped keep project operations running smoothly throughout different project phases.
“The cooperation with Forenom resulted in significant time savings and reduced administrative effort. It was also highly beneficial that our colleagues had a dedicated contact person they could rely on, which contributed to overall satisfaction and smooth operations,” Strassmayr tells.
ZAUNERGROUP recognises that in large-scale construction projects, workforce continuity and employee wellbeing directly affect operational efficiency.
“At ZAUNERGROUP, we consider our employees to be our most valuable asset on the construction site. The successful completion of any project is dependent on high-quality workmanship and the availability of the necessary manpower on site. When accommodation is well organised, it has a significant impact on employee wellbeing, productivity and the overall efficiency of project execution.”
As data center investments continue to grow across Europe, flexible and scalable accommodation support is becoming an increasingly important part of successful project execution.
A reliable partner for demanding project environments
ZAUNERGROUP recommends Forenom for large-scale projects where flexibility, scalability and reliable support are essential.
According to ZAUNERGROUP, responsiveness, smooth communication and the ability to adapt to changing project requirements have been key parts of the cooperation throughout the project.
“We would like to highlight the professionalism, flexibility, and solution-oriented approach of the Forenom team. The cooperation has been smooth and reliable throughout the project, which we highly value,” Strassmayr concludes.
Looking for a scalable accommodation solution for your next project?
Forenom provides scalable accommodation solutions for construction, industrial and data center projects across the Nordics and Germany. Contact our team to discuss accommodation solutions for your next project and receive a proposal within 48 hours.
