It was pomp and colour as President Uhuru Kenyatta officially opened the Global Trade Centre (GTC) in Nairobi last evening. Fireworks lit up the Nairobi sky as invited guests marveled at what is billed as East Africa’s largest building development.
The Ksh 42 billion project by Chinese company Avic International Real Estate is seen as a game changer in the Kenya’s real estate sector by the sheer scale of the development and its features. Set on 7 acres, the GTC features six towers, the tallest being a 42-storey office tower consisting of high-end offices designed to attract Fortune 500 class organizations, a five-star hotel (JW Marriott) and exclusive apartments for the most discerning. The development also features retail spaces and numerous amenities for the complete Live, Work and Play experience. A helipad has also been built to facilitate convenient movement for residents or guests to and fro the development.
Although the development is still incomplete, it has transformed the Westlands area and Nairobi city at large. It is visible from almost any direction within Nairobi and the surroundings. Guests, residents and workers at the GTC will have some of the most exciting views of Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Kenya and other landmarks from the top floors of the development.
GMP Architects are the design consultants while Triad Architects are the executing architects. A number of local firms and suppliers have been involved in the project, creating learning opportunities as well as numerous jobs along the way.
Read a detailed account of how the project was executed in the next issue of our print edition.
