The Whale project is one step closer to realization. After a tendering process with multiple bidders, the board of The Whale AS has selected the contractor responsible for the construction of the attraction.
“After an extensive process and a thorough evaluation conducted by our administration and hired advisors, the board has decided that HENT will be the contractor we will work with leading up to a total construction contract, which will be signed in February 2025,” says Benn Eidissen, Chair of The Whale AS.
Throughout the spring, tender documents were prepared and sent to national and regional/local contractors before the summer. The submission deadline was September 14, and after this, meetings were held with two contractors, along with several internal evaluation meetings, to determine the best-suited contractor to build The Whale and its exceptional architecture.
“We are eager to start planning and building The Whale as soon as possible and are excited about the task and the trust we’ve been given,” says Ola Flønes, Marketing Manager at HENT. “HENT has built many complex projects, but nothing like The Whale before. We are humbled by the unique task ahead and committed to preserving the vision set by the architect and the clear goals the client has for The Whale,” Flønes continues.
Collaboration
From now until February next year, The Whale administration, led by Project Manager Roger Pettersen, will work closely with representatives from HENT and architect Dorte Mandrup to define the project details and establish a target price.
“This work begins next Monday, September 30, when we will gather all the advisors involved in the collaboration, as well as representatives from the board of The Whale AS and the full administration, for a joint kick-off,” says Project Manager Roger Pettersen. “During this meeting, the vision for the building will be presented, along with a preliminary timeline and a plan for organizing the collaboration over the fall,” Pettersen adds.
Local Value Creation
The leadership of The Whale AS is focused on creating local value and ensuring that both during the project period and after the attraction opens, there will be local and regional benefits.
“HENT will use local and regional subcontractors in the construction of The Whale,” confirms Ola Flønes. “It’s not practical for us to bring in labor from distant locations when we can find qualified workers locally or regionally,” Flønes continues.
“This wasn’t a qualification criterion in the competition, but we are very pleased that HENT will source locally and regionally,” says Benn Eidissen. “The idea behind The Whale is precisely to strengthen the economy in Andøy, Vesterålen, and the tourism industry in Northern Norway as a whole, and it is very satisfying to already see the effects of this,” Eidissen concludes.
