Two days ago, the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations announced the Design-Build Award for the new U.S. Consulate General office in Nigeria.
The $319m project will be located in the mixed-use district of Eko Atlantic City, in Victoria Island, Lagos State. The contract was awarded to Pernix Group, a leading construction firm in Lombard, Illinois, and was designed by a US firm in partnership with a Nigerian Architect. Here is everything you need to know about the project with pictures.
It is located on a 12.2 Acre (approximately 49,372 sqm) site
The project will sit on a 12.2 Acres (approximately 49,372 sqm) site, which is almost 6 times the size of a football pitch (7,140 sqm). The consulate building will have a lettable space of 14,685 sqm, which is slightly less than the size of Heritage Place in Ikoyi.
It will cost $319 million (₦159 billion) to build
According to the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), the project will cost $319 million dollars, which is about ₦159 billion Naira at the current NAFEX rate. This will bring construction cost to $21,723 per sqm, far higher than the $3,635 per sqm average construction cost of Grade A offices in Nigeria according to the African Property and Construction Cost Guide by AECOM.
For some (not so direct) context, when Ikeja City Mall was completed in 2011, the 22,223 sqm shopping centre cost $99 million to build. The large cost variance may be linked to additional security features or the large podium style design, this, however, is not confirmed.
It was designed by American Architect Ennead and Nigeria-based ATO Architects
Ennead Design, the New York-based Architectural firm has been designing top-grade projects across the globe including Printing plants, Libraries, Fire Rescue Systems, Garage, and Intermodal facilities, Courthouses, Water treatment plants, and Consulate offices.
Aside from the Lagos Consulate office, the Architect has also designed other consulate offices for the US Embassy, including its Thailand, Bahamas, Mexican, and Turkey Consulate Offices. ATO Architects, who also designed the FRSC Head Office in Abuja will be involved in the project. The partnership will further bolster their position as a leading Nigerian architecture firm.
The new Consulate Office will be completed in 2027
The new consulate office is expected to be completed in 2027, although the commencement date is yet to be disclosed. Upon completion, the project will feature Program Offices, Consular Services, Cafeteria, Multipurpose Room, Recreational Facilities, Warehouse, Shops, Entrance Pavilions, Parking Garage, Utility Building, Boat Dock and Pedestrian Bridge.
On a more general note, developers trying to create new cities typically require an anchor project or a major attractor of other activities and players to spur further development activity. So far, most of the development activity within Eko Atlantic has been in the residential sector, and that has not quite done the job.
What is typically required is a major regulator, the head office of a major bank/other relevant companies, or even a consular of a major country. All of these have the capacity to encourage other businesses to come. We are eager to see how this new development will impact the Eko Atlantic project over the next few years.
