Britam Tower – Kenya
As the third tallest building in Africa, the Britam Tower stands as a symbol of Kenya’s rising wealth and influence on the world stage. The designers kept the climate in mind when they shaped it for maximum daylight and included rainwater harvesting.
Profile:
- Height: 200m
- Floors: 31
- Built: 2017
- Use: offices
- Location: Nairobi (capital), population 4.7 million
Background
The Britam Tower is the 3rd tallest building in Africa (after two buildings in Johannesburg).
Serves as headquarters of British-American Investments Company (Britam)
On a clear day, both Mount Kilimanjaro (over 200km away) + Mount Kenya (over 100km away) are visible from the tower.
[If you’re wondering how this is possible, check out my page on horizon distances, where I explain how the elevation of both Kilimanjaro and Nairobi enable this view. Click here.]
The building received the ‘top skyscraper in Africa’ award at the international architecture awards 2019, and then the Emporis skyscraper award – the only African skyscraper to have ever been in the top 10 (the awards having run since 2000).
Design
GAPP Architects & Howard Humphreys Civil Engineers.
The facade consists of a glass curtain wall, covered in a ceramic grid ‘veil’, which provides protection from the sun and therefore reduces the need for air conditioning. Also a radiation-diffusing window glass reduces energy consumption.
On top of the geometric base shape sits a huge spire, forming 67m of the total height of the building.
The tower’s shape provides it with maximum ventilation and daylight. In addition, it results in a variety of floor shape sizes to suit a variety of tenant needs.
At the entrance there is an atrium spanning six storeys.
the geometrical design utilises maximum daylight 
the height means views can span hundreds of km on a clear day
Construction/Engineering
Three wind turbines on the roof provide clean, renewable energy.
The tower’s frame is made from reinforced concrete. It uses a fire-resistant elastic sealant for safety reasons.
Rainwater is harvested and greywater recycled.
Crucially, the building has access to a continuous supply of water via a specially constructed a ‘bore hole’. This is drilled into the ground to reach groundwater supply. Such a reliable water supply can be rare in this dry area of eastern Africa.
[Photo credits: gapp.net, Britam Group on Youtube, chapmanbdsp.com]