A Chronological List of Important projects by
TRIAD ARCHITECTS
since 1963
PARLIAMENT BUILDING
Amyas Connell and Thornley Dyer were asked to design the new Le gislative buildings for the British Administration in 1963. After Independence the legislative buil dings were renamed New Parliament Buildings.
A difficult design problem arose with the Administrators who we re looking forward to a miniature version of the Palaces of Westminster set in the centre of Nairobi. Con nell had to respect their views and eventually provided a miniature version of the Big Ben Clock To wer – although when completed it was the highest structure in Nairobi.
Later additions included the new Assembly Chamber, fitted neatly on to the first stage building and reverting to Connell’ s interest in Corbusian design.
NORFOLK TOWERS
In 1976 TRIAD were commissioned by Kulia Investments Limited to explore the development potential of their important six-acre site near the Norfolk Hotel. This site is bounded by Harry Thuku Road, Kijabe Street
and the Nairobi River.
Following investigations of the site, orientation, market and financing factors, a phased development was designed featuring the first luxury apartments to be built in central Nairobi with their own swimming pool facilities and integrated with office development on the same site.
It was completed in 1978.
KPCU CLEAN COFFEE WAREHOUSE
The KPCU Clean Coffee Warehouse is located in the centre of Nairobi adjacent to the main coffee mill through which most of the Kenya coffee seeds pass. As a valuable site, Kenya Planters’ Cooperative Union wished the site to be developed to its full potential. The building is a six storey warehouse capable of holding 20,000 tons of clean coffee, but with flexibility to accommodate processing machinery. The building is served by four goods lifts and has extremely comprehensive power supply systems, and compressed air supply. A bridge connects the warehouse to Kahawa House warehouse where the coffee is auctioned. TRIAD co-ordinated this complex contract from inception to completion and successfully completed the project in 1978.
NATIONAL SEED QUALITY CONTROL SERVICE
The station provides a service to the seed industry in Kenya through a field inspectorate and testing farm and laboratories. The station consists of two office buildings, one for the seed inspectorate and one for the varietal testing section, preparation buildings, seed testing laboratory, seed pathology laboratories, canteen and lecture room, workshops, greenhouse and special seed beds.
The seed laboratories are equipped with temperature control rooms. The greenhouse and seed beds are provided with a steam sterilisation
system, which is supplied from a centralised boiler. Phase I was completed in 1979 and Phase II extensions were implemented for completion in 1981, incorporating additional varietal preparation and laboratory facilities and other specialised laboratories and seed beds.
GARBA TULA SCHOOL
Triad designed and supervised the construction of the original and subsequent phases of this project which was funded by the German
Protestant Agency (EZE). The school consists of a single stream primary school, with associated dormitories, dining and kitchens, special
classrooms and staff housing. The project was built in an isolated area of Northern Kenya.
Particular attention was paid to the environmental design. The altitude of Garba Tula is 2000 and the climate is hot. Cross ventilation and a solar roof system have been successfully combined to produce buildings which are cool and pleasant to work in.
CORNER HOUSE
Corner House is located in the heart of Nairobi’s city and lies between the junction of Mama Ngina Street and Kimathi Street.
The development consists of three levels of basement parking, four podium floors fifteen office floors, a penthouse and a caretaker’s flat
on the roof.
The building uses a combination of reflective glass screen and louvres to cut out sun penetration and therefore a cool and pleasant
workspace inside. The building is served by four high-speed lifts, two of which start from the basement.
INTEGRATED RURAL AND FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMME KENYA
Triad were commissioned to design and implement construction of 30 Dispensaries all over Kenya as indicated in the map on the right.
This was a pilot scheme for a major rural health project funded by the World Bank and other agencies.
Triad developed three standard designs for use in the programme which called for the construction of over two hundred dispensaries. The dispensary sites were located through out the Republic and called for the planned deployment of staff to ensure effective supervision and contract management.
The dispensaries were handed over on programme and within budget.
JOHN HURT HOUSE - NANYUKI
This is a 750sq. metres Ranch House located in Mt. Kenya Game Ranch with magnificent views of Mt. Kenya. It is composed of a guest wing, generous covered verandahs, a swimming pool and a detached studio for John Hurt, who trained as a painter before his acting career.
DIANI REEF HOTEL
The Diani Reef Hotel is set on a high coral cliff overlooking one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in Kenya located 20 km south of Mombasa.
The brief, and the inspiration of the beautiful topography, have resulted in a grander, more formal building eminently distinguishable from the prevalent makuti style hotels of the area. The design has a coordinating theme of white Swahili style arched openings set off by red clay grills and dark mvuli screens.
ICRAF HOUSE - GIGIRI, NAIROBI
ICRAF House at Gigiri in Nairobi is the headquarters of the International Council for Research into Agroforestry. It was constructed to house the administration and headquarters staff of the Council on a landscaped site on the outskirts of Nairobi adjoining the United Nations Environment Programme site.
The project consists of a 2-storey office building containing individual offices for a range of senior, intermediate and secretarial staff.
The complex also houses a 200-seat auditorium with simultaneous translation booths where the Council holds its regular international meetings.
Great emphasis was laid on the landscaping of the site and its integration with roads and footpaths.
UNGA FEEDS LIMITED
Unga Feeds Limited, the largest animal feeds manufacturer in East Africa, commissioned Triad to design their integrated animal feed plant at Nakuru.
Triad worked in association with Bhuller Miag and engineers Gordon Melvin and Partners, in a complicated co-ordinated exercise. The six storey mill, which has extensive basements containing raw material handling equipment, has over fifty storage bins within the reinforced concrete framework. Computerised controls allow the operators to mix an infinite range of different types of animal feeds. The project included large bag stores, bulk stores, railway and road transport reception and despatch facilities.
ISIOLO DISTRICT HOSPITAL
A British contribution to Kenya’s health services was the commitment of over 3 million pounds to build and equip a new district hospital at Isiolo. This modern hospital, fully equipped to serve a fastgrowing town and with the needs of vast areas of northeastern Kenya in mind, was completed in early 1989.
The project was constructed on a green field site and consists of a 160 bed hospital with outpatients facilities, operating theatres, water supply, full landscaping of the site among many others
BARCLAYS PLAZA
This project is a joint involment by Barclays and Unilever pens ion funds. Car parking is provided on interlocking floors within the podium.
Three levels of shops are designed into the ground floor and first floor of the podium, surrounding a top-lit atrium. There are 10 typical floors of 720 square metres.
The orientation of the building is so designed as to minimise afternoon sun penetration. The curtain wall detail allows for the unobtrusive installation of individual split air-conditioners.
Triad worked closely with the project manager and property advisors in the development of the initial concept and financial viability of t his project.
DE LA RUE
Thomas De La Rue, the international renowned security printing specialist, completed the construction of their new security printing
works in Nairobi. This facility produces currency notes for the East and Central African market.
Triad were commissioned as architects for this project, and worked closely with London based consulting engineers, Cameron Bedford Taylor.
The project involved extensive co-ordination of specialist suppliers and consultants in this highly serviced building.
RWENZORI HOUSE KAMPALA
Rwenzori House, developed in the early 1990’s was conceived to exploit the demand for high quality office accommodation in Kampala.
The project financiers and owners are government investment banks, including D.F.C.U, I.F.C and C.D.C.
The building has six storeys with an additional floor of offices in the roof space. Car parking is provided in an undercroft with some surface car
parking to the rear of the building.
The project was constructed in a span of fifteen months, and close liaison between the project manager, the contractor and the design
team ensured that the construction period ran smoothly and there were no delays.
The project was let to a variety of tenants, including World Bank and the European Union, who occupy half the building.
CAR AND GENERAL (KENYA) LTD
Car and General commissioned Triad Architects in March 1997 to prepare designs for the relocation from their existing offices and
showrooms to a new site in Nairobi’s Industrial Area.
The brief called for the conversion of an existing multi-storey warehouse building into offices, the demolition of an old tyre factory
and construction of a new showroom for their Trading Division.
The services provided by Triad included not only the overall design of the project but also the interior design of the offices and the
showroom. The spectacular arched roof of the building provides a light and airy retail space, and an exciting new building, which
received a Gold Award in the Architectural Association of Kenya Millenium Awards.
ICRAF RESEARCH CENTRE - NAIROBI
ICRAF (International Centre for Research in Agroforestry) is part of the CGIAR system, a World Bank co-ordined consultative group in Agricultural research.
Triad have been involved in the development of their new campus at Gigiri since its inception in 1988, designing the headquaters building in collaboration with Whites of Sweden.
Triad were commissioned to design the new research building which included ten laboratories, a germplasm storage facility for the world agro-forestry seed bank, a 200-seat conference hall, offices and social facilities, a project which consists of 2,500 square metres of built area.
The project was jointly funded by KfW of Germany, the Danish government, the Governments of Japan and the Kenya Government and was completed within budget.
TIMES TOWER
The Central Bank of Kenya commissioned Triad to design and supervise construction of a 35 storey mordern building in the heart of Nairobi. The tallest building in East Africa, it covers 360,000sq.ft and comprises an office tower, a banking hall and a multistorey carpark. Triad also
won the interior design competition for the interior fit-out of the entire building for occupation by a staff complement of 1600 Kenya Revenue Authority employees
MARGARET THATCHER LIBRARY
Triad were commissioned to carry out studies for the feasibility of constructing university libraries in Kenya and following the successful
negotiations with the Kenya Government, the British Government undertook to construct a new university library at Moi University.
LINCOLN SCHOOL
Lincoln School, the premier private school in Uganda, commissioned Triad to design its new campus at Lubowa Hill on the outskirts of Kampala. The new campus, set on a hill site, allows the school to undertake a planned expansion.
Its present constricted site in the centre of Kampala was a blo ck to such a plan.
RUWENZORI COURTS
Rwenzori Courts is a high quality office and commercial building designed around a dramatic, internal courtyard enclosed by a translucent, tensile
canopy roof. The appearance is modern and dignified with a superior standard of finishes and decoration throughout.
The design incorporates several passive features which maximise the benefits of natural cross-ventilation.
HACO INDUSTRIES LIMITED
Haco Industries Ltd building in Kasarani, Nairobi was a phased industrial development, built over a span of twelve years from 1988 to 2000.
Triad Architects were commissioned to help in planning and implementing the relocation of what was then a small Bic pen assembly plant from premises in Mombasa and in Nairobi’s Industrial Area to a new industrial park in Kasarani.
A master plan has allowed an additional future expansion of factory facilities of 10,000 sq m.
NAIROBI BUSINESS PARK
The Jockey Club of Kenya, owners of 400 acres of land on the Ngong Road between Nairobi and Karen, decided some time ago to diversify their land use by restructuring their land portfolio. Offices were designed around a standard modular unit of a core and the two wings. The standard core element comprises WCs, reception area and circulation.
The two wings vary in size from a minimum of 400 square metres to a maximum of 600 square metres per floor and the design permits flexible usa ge of this space. A key element of the project was an effective site IT system using fibre optic cables between the offices and linking through on site exchange to ground and satellite delivery portals.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION OF KENYA
This development for the Communications Commission of Kenya is four storeys with a total space of 7,000 square metres, set in a well
landscaped garden with a natural lake, modern state of the art design with provision of internet and conferencing facility. Adequate staff dining
facilities and recreational facilities are provided for. The building is environmentally friendly, maximising natural cross ventilation, with adequate natural lighting.
A strong purpose-designed telecommunication mast dominates the entrance, giving identity and
stature. The project was completed and handed over in April 2004.
INTERNATIONAL MINE-ACTION TRAINING CENTRE
The IMATC was constructed at Embakasi, Nairobi to provide training in de-mining skills and peace support training to the East African region. The project is funded by the British Government. The Centre consists of teaching, administration and accommodation facilities, as well as extensive training areas.
100 students will be trained in short courses of 2 to 3 weeks duration, and accommodation has been designed for support staff and directing staff, bringing the complement of personnel on site up to 250 people. The project construction commenced in June 2004 and was managed under a fast track contract for delivery in February 2005. Triad were acting as design team leaders, project managers, interior designers and procurement managers and delivered the project on a “turn key” basis, fully furnished and equipped.
KIPANDE HOUSE
Triad Architects were commissioned by Kenya Commercial Bank to undertake the complete replanning and internal refurbishment of their
Kipande House branch as their model for their new image.
The project consisted of creating a larger Banking Hall, ATMs lobby, staff working areas and new cashier counters using modern building materials to create their new image and good Customer Care services
BRITISH PEACE SUPPORT TRAINING COLLEGE
Triad has designed several projects for the British Army in its support for the Peace Support Training College at Karen. The college was developed as part of a general initiative of G8 donor countries to increase the peace keeping capacity of East African states.
Triad designed and managed the construction and equipping of a 50-roomed hostel block, a 50-seat lecture room and syndicated rooms, and undertook the design of further teaching facilities funded by GTZ (German Aid)
In a continuing involvement in the PSTC and Defence Staff College programme, Triad have designed and managed the construction of the DSC headquarters, the new library and further selfcontained accommodation units for expansion of the peace training course at the Defence Staff College.
NAIROBI NATIONAL MUSEUM
Triad Architects were appointed museum under a European Union funded program to prepare a detailed Master Plan for the development of the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi Museum. The project involved the rehabilitation of the existing Museum, conversion of the redundant spaces to galleries, design of a new entrance, visitors centre and galleries at a cost of KShs.736 million.
BANK OF KIGALI
After winning the architectural competition Triad Architects were commissioned to design the Headquarters extensions of Bank of Kigali in August 2004. The project entailed building a new modern office block adjacent to the existing headquarters building with interconnecting corridors between the two.
The new 7-storey building houses the head office and a large modernized Retail Branch on two levels. The old 3-storey building, which had become too small for the expanding Bank operations, will be modernized for rental purposes and allow space for future expansion of the Bank.
COCA COLA EAST-AFRICA
In 2006 The Coca-Cola Company Ltd made a decision to build their regional East & Central Africa Office Headquarters in the Upper Hill area
of Nairobi. This head office is the headquarters of their operations in 27 African countries. Following an architectural design competition in late 2007, GAPP Architects & Urban Designers of South Africa, in association with Triad Architects, were appointed the Project Architects.
The resultant building, completed in August 2008 within a construction period of 13 months, is a landmark in the city of Nairobi.
Coca-Cola East &Central Africa 2008
INSURANCE PLAZA KIGALI
An investment project of the Social Security Fund of Rwanda, Insurance Plaza is an iconic 18 level, 27,000 square meter commercial building located at the heart of Kigali’s expanding Central Business District comprising of a 3-level modern shopping arcade, 14-storey office floors with a top-level restaurant commanding spectacular views of Kigali, a service basement, and a separate adjacent 4-level 170-car parking silo serving the main building.
TRIAD was commissioned in July 2007 as construction supervisors for this project that was completed in September, 2010.
DELOITTE
The Deloitte Place is the headquarters of Deloitte and Touche which consists of a modern office block located at the junction of Waiyaki Way and Musa Gitau road, Nairobi.
The building is environmentally friendly capitalizing on natural lighting. The three circulation cores on each corner of the triangular footprint anchor the building giving it a strong image in line with the Deloitte brand.
MUTHANGARI DUPLEXES
Muthangari Duplexes are a state-of-the-art contemporary apartments along Muthangari Drive Nairobi.
Triad Architects in colaboration with BPM Architects from South Africa were commissioned to design and supervise the construction of the apartments.
This task was completed and the project was handed over to client in 2012
UAP TOWER
UAP Tower is a 35 level office building located at Upper Hill off Upper Hill Road Nairobi. The building comprises 29,000 sqm office space on 27 levels and 600 parking spaces on four levels.
Triad Architects in association with BPM Architects International from South Africa were commissioned to design and supervise construction of the office block. The design of the building is complete and is estimated to cost Kshs. 3.6 billion.
KERICHO CATHEDRAL
The 1200 seater Cathedral is designed to achieve the primary objective of building a Roman Catholic cathedral of lasting quality, beauty and functionality, devoted to serving the present and future needs of the Diocese of Kericho.
The design is centred around the formation of one ascending vaulted volume under one big roof. This enormous room is expressed by its massive concrete arches on to which sits a great inclined roof which will become an unmistakable form in the rolling panorama of Kericho hills and valleys.
