Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the iconic 15-floor Kingsway Tower in Ikoyi, Lagos will be delivered early next year, thereby adding to the plethora of commercial office projects in the choice area.
The Guardian visit to the site last week shows that the project is moving rapidly, as the contractors finalise plans for completing the glass cladding and other top quality finishing that places the commercial facility in ‘Grade A’ category.
Designed by South Africa based Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects (SAOTA), While there has not been any indication that the building will meet sustainable standards, the building’s façade and design demonstrate that it will have green features.
The building’s orientation is also critical, with the east and west faces minimized for reduced solar exposure.“SAOTA is an architectural firm particularly concerned with intricate and explicit attention to detail.
The addition to the hybrid districts are a positive trend in urban development and transit oriented developments. The edifice with an office space that measures 13,317sqm, a landmass of 4,994sqm and 337 bays, representing 1:40 ratio is being supervised by Sutherland Engineers.
Sources hinted that the developers, Messrs Sky View Towers Limited may have shifted the completion date earlier third quarter of 2017 due to economic realities that affected imports and high price inflation.
According to him, construction is at peak stage to meet with the delivery date, while the architects were particularly chosen to express a more pronounced approach to “Green Architecture” than the former, with the presence of vegetation in the spine of the facade.
“That level of treatment can be seen in the facade screen of the Kings Tower, which has a twofold purpose of filtering the elements, as well as creating an aesthetic in its own right. The undulating coffered canopy that protects the podium level also bears similar traits”, he added.
He stressed that Kingsway Tower is yet another aesthetically pleasing high rise building in the busy commercial node of Lagos comprising offices, ground floor retail, restaurants and basement parking.
The mixed-use theme of the building is in tandem with the new trend being seen in many new developments in Lagos expected in the coming years. The commercial justification is the appropriate utilization of land values, which are quite high in Ikoyi.
Traditionally an exclusive residential district and has been since colonial times, before the proliferation of developments in excess of 10 floors (mostly 15 – 20 floors).
The expertise of the engineering firm covers a diverse spectrum of multi-disciplinary engineering services ranging from Structural Engineering, which is the company’s original core competency, to Civil, Mechanical (HVAC, Wet Services, Fire and Lifts), Electrical and Specialist Façade Engineering services.
