Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Convention center in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenyatta International Convention Centre is a 105-meter-tall tower with 32 floors in Nairobi's central business district on Harambee Avenue. The building houses multiple conference halls, including a main plenary hall designed to accommodate up to 5,000 attendees.
Construction began in 1967 under President Jomo Kenyatta's direction and was completed in 1973. The project developed through three distinct phases and became a landmark in Nairobi's skyline.
The tower's light terracotta facade and simple solid shapes draw on traditional African architecture: cuboids form the Plenary hall, the tower is a cylinder built from stacked cuboids, and the amphitheatre and helipad both resemble cones. In the paved 75-square-metre courtyard stands James Butler's 1971 statue of Jomo Kenyatta, surrounded by gardens, pools and geyser fountains.
The complex sits in City Square, within walking distance of several five-star hotels. A panoramic lift runs to the 26th floor, where a 360-degree viewing platform looks over the city; the revolving restaurant above it turns once in 76 minutes. The 75-square-metre paved courtyard around James Butler's 1971 statue of Kenyatta has gardens, pools and geyser fountains.
The building held the title of Nairobi's tallest structure for 26 years, dominating the city's profile. A rotating restaurant once occupied the upper levels, allowing diners to see the city slowly turn around them over their meal.
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