Mlolongo, Kenya
2014
The Imperial Health Sciences Regional Distribution Centre is a proposed “high-rack” climate–controlled pharmaceutical and consumer goods warehouse, designed to stringent international standards including FM Global, the industrial building standard for insurer-approved buildings. It is located within a 5-acre site along Mombasa road, with an adjacent plot of the same size being ear-marked for future expansion.
The challenges included the need to house a complex indoor and outdoor logistical cycle of goods receipt and dispatch on a restricted site, as well as housing a range of mechanical and electrical equipment that would support all the centre’s functions, within strict budgetary controls and within FM Global’s stringent standards. To maximize on space, equipment was placed on all horizontal surfaces, including flat roofs, as well as underground, wherever possible. Cost-effective and energy-efficient materials that conform to FM Global’s stringent standards were proposed. The most optimum lorry circuit has been worked out and the building sited to allow for the sequential vehicle movement that the client requires. The warehouse is designed to incorporate over 5000 square meters of warehouse floor space, a cold room, receiving and dispatch docks, logistical spaces, as well as several administration spaces. Its technical robustness will include redundant temperature-control equipment and advanced fire suppression systems. Its design incorporates a robust asset protection component with the building’s roof and wall envelop made of modern clean-line insulated metal cladding that will render a very contemporary aesthetic while at the same time helping to maintain required internal temperatures. With its vast roof surface, the centre has been designed to recycle all the rain water collected for various grey water uses.
Nyali, Kenya
2011
Design and supervision of the Undersea Cable Head Office.
Facilities include new offices and a data centre and data room for Google. A client requirement within the brief was for the buildings to blend in with the adjacent historic monument of Fort Jesus.
Wilson Airport, Nairobi, Kenya
1997
An exceptional client dedicated to the disciplined administration of its aviation facilities required a bold, yet simple building as a visual statement of their aviation conviction to stand out amongst the increasingly visually eccentric and financially extravagant buildings being constructed at Wilson Airport.
The brief called for aircraft storage and maintenance facilities, modest passenger handling and waiting space and the fellowship’s modest administrative offices. The site allocated to the Fellowship presented access and site drainage and foundation problems which had to be overcome.PLANNING produced an ultra-simple outer envelope to enclose all of their required facilities, with passenger/pilot/maintenance staff entering and exiting at the west end of the building and aircrafts arriving and leaving at the east end of the building. This elegant industrial aircraft hangar was built entirely from locally pressed prefabricated pre-painted steel, logically planned and simply detailed and completed.This NATIONAL AWARD WINNING solution stands out at Wilson for its visually simple design statement, and its immaculate attention to detail.
Mombasa, Kenya
2008
Several possible sites were examined before this 6 hectare greenfield site was ultimately selected, largely on account of the relative ease for vehicle access, and adequate space on site to accommodate the extensive effluent treatment plant that this development would require.
Demands for water were far in excess of the local authorities' ability to deliver the same. It was therefore necessary to look to additional supplies. These were met by the very disciplined use of rainwater harvesting in tandem with a borehole and massive water storage tanks.
The disposal of the extensive and regular volumes of effluent were also a major design challenge, as were the clients requirements for a minimal columned structure.
PLANNING worked very closely with the Structural Engineers Mangat I.B. Patel to ensure the client was provided with as column free a structure as was economically possible. Administration accommodation is located at first floor level so that clear views over the facility floor areas are provided.
