Kenyatta International Convention Centre
| The Kenyatta International Conference Centre | |
|---|---|
 'Kenyatta International Conference Centre' | |
 | |
| Record height | |
| Preceded by | Hilton Nairobi |
| General information | |
| Type | Commercial |
| Location | Nairobi, Kenya |
| Coordinates | 1°17′19″S 36°49′23″E / 1.28861°S 36.82306°E |
| Completed | 1974 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 105 m (344 ft) |
| Top floor | 28 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 28 |
| Floor area | 225,000 sq metres[1] |
| Lifts/elevators | 5[2] |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | David Mutiso, Karl Henrik Nøstvik[3][4][5] |
The Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) is a 28-story building located in Nairobi, Kenya. The KICC is located in the central business district of Nairobi. It is an internationally renowned venue for conferences, meetings, exhibitions and special events within walking distance of several five star hotels. During its 39-year history it has been the host of several international conferences, seminars, exhibitions and summits.
History
The Kenyatta International Conference Centre, colloquially known as the "KICC" was commissioned by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the 1st President of the Republic of Kenya, in 1967. It was designed by the Norwegian architect Karl Henrik Nøstvik and the construction was carried out by contractors Solel Boneh & Factah. This was done in three phases. Phase I was the construction of the podium, Phase II consisted of the main tower and Phase III involved the Plenary.[6] Construction was completed in 1973, with the opening ceremony occurring in September 1973 presided over by President Kenyatta. The KICC was returned to the state in 2003, when KANU was voted out of the government.[7]
Structure
General
The KICC currently stands as the third tallest building in Kenya, reaching a height of 105 metres.[2] It succeeded the Hilton Nairobi as the tallest building in Kenya, a position it held for 26 years before being surpassed by Teleposta Tower. The tower consists of 28 floors, including a revolving restaurant which offers panoramic views of the city, rotating 360° in 76 minutes.[6] The building's light teracotta façade reflects traditional African architecture, as does the use of simple solid shapes- cuboids make up the Plenary hall, the tower consists of a cylinder composed of several cuboids and the amphitheatre and helipad both resemble cones.[6]
There are several well-equipped conference and meeting rooms with the largest having a capacity over 4,000 delegates. The KICC is equipped with Simultaneous Interpretation Equipment with a capability of up to seven languages, a modern business centre, a banking facility, tour and travel services, expansive grounds and ample and secure parking. It is often depicted as an icon of Nairobi.
The Amphitheatre
At the amphitheatre "heritage and modernity meet". It is designed for medium sized convening, 800 sittings on three balconies surrounding the auditorium, brings to life and control any serious business meeting. It is equipped with SIE Booths, full logic recording facilities, state of the art public address system and sound proofing.
The Plenary
The largest conference chamber of its kind in East Africa, the plenary is fortified with sound proof grey stone, deep natural wood and lofty ceilings. It caters for large international meetings, exhibitions and grand balls, and has a capacity of 5000 people. It is equipped with Advanced Sound Amplification & recording systems, Wireless Simultaneous interpretation Equipment (up to 7 languages) booths, and observer galleries. Its high ceilings were made for elaborate décor, hosting banners and other promotional materials.
Courtyard
This is a paved 705 square meter courtyard surrounding the Jomo Kenyatta statue. It was designed as a respite for those attending conferences. The courtyard includes gardens, pools and geyser fountains. Numerous flag poles and balconies in the courtyard are fashioned to host promotional identities.
COMESA Grounds
The COMESA grounds consist of expansive grounds overlooking the Kenyan parliament. In 1999, the largest ever exhibition to be held in Kenya, bringing together exhibiters from all COMESA countries, was held at the KICC. Among the attendees were nine heads of state, having come for the Heads of State Summit. The Ground can be used to hold large exhibitions or park up to 1000 cars.
References
- ^ KICC Floor Area (m), 8 April 2013.
- ^ a b Kenyatta International Conference Centre Stats, 7 April 2013.
- ^ http://www.archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=12955
- ^ http://www.akmlso-ifbls2010.org/venue.html
- ^ http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0024926
- ^ a b c KICC Construction, 7 April 2013. Cite error: The named reference "The Kenyatta International Conference Centre" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Daily Nation, 11 November 2003: Kanu bid to reclaim KICC flops