Triad Architects has seen the completion of Kenya Women and Children Wellness Centre (KWCWC) Located on the campus of United States International University in Nairobi Kenya, and housed on 10 acres of dedicated land off the Northern Bypass in Ruaraka Nairobi. The centre was designed by Perkins + Will Architects in collaboration with Triad Architects under the vision of James R. Jordan Foundation International.
KWCWC will be a state-of-the-art healthcare facility whose programming shares a common intent to serve the health and wellness of the community.
The Wellness Centre was developed in response to three critical shortages in the country: lack of access to health care providers; lack of access to treatment and medicines; and lack of affordability.
Elevation view of one of the blocks of KWCWC.
Landscaping set as a healing garden.
The completed phase one of the project comprises of six blocks which provide functions such as safe spaces for gender-based violence victims (accommodation facilities), a research centre, administrative and educational facilities. The blocks are further set in well-articulated landscapes which cherish additional spaces such as healing gardens.
The design responded to the brief and site conditions by introducing single blocks that are interlinked by bridges. It also acknowledged the site terrain which had a steep slope in the North – South orientation by setting the blocks along the contours. This minimized the cut and fill on site . By setting the long facades along the North – South orientation, this reduced direct solar heat gains in the blocks therefore scoring highly on the user comfort index and reduced energy consumption for cooling.
The six blocks have shallow plans to allow for natural daylighting into the internal spaces and natural cross ventilation which delivers exceptional indoor air quality.
During the soft launch in September 2021, the client explained the importance of the development to the community and appreciated all stakeholders for an astonishing realization of the project.