Kenya Commercial Bank Hq

An economically sustainable and environmentally friendly tower for the bank's headquarters in Upper Hill Nairobi. The tower house offices a state of the art banking hall and administrative offices and conference facilities for meetings conventions and workshops. The site presented three major challenges for a tower building: height limitations very hard stone bed-rock and Nairobi's equatorial sun.

A triangular-shaped tower block was arrived at. At 25 levels the triangular shaped plan gives all facades of the building prominence. Environmental design was key in defining the architecture with all floors naturally lit and ventilated.

Heat gain into the building is kept to a minimum whilst daylight to a maximum without the use of mechanical systems. Exposed precast concrete waffle floor slabs provide for adequate thermal mass absorbing internally generated heat during the day and cool air during the night. To reduce heat gain extensive use of light-reflecting solar shading fins was adopted coupled with louvered horizontal shading on the high light transmittance glazing.

Three sky courts each within three "fire compartments" were created to limit the spread of fire and smoke allow air movement into the building and up through the atrium. The use of precast concrete floor slabs ensured speedier construction- a deliberate move to make up time after a lengthy excavation period. The building provides 800sqm of office space per level and 400 car parking spaces on five levels.

Rainwater collection and treatment and water recycling reduce the already low running costs. The building is disabled-accessible and is serviced by seven high speed lifts two of which are dedicated for fire-fighting and one VIP lift. The building was completed in 2015.