Nock Sh1.1b office plan

By Omulo Okoth

Work on the 16-storey Olympic Plaza, which will house the headquarters of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock), has started.

The Chairman of Nock, Kipchoge Keino, said they hope that the commercial office development will be complete in two-and-half-years. Meanwhile, they have relocated to temporary offices on Plaza 2000 along Mombasa Road.

Architectural impression of Olympic Plaza front view [PHOTOS: COURTESY]

Nock Secretary general FK Paul, said the project will cost Sh1.1 billion.

The modern office block, along Kenya Road in the ultra-modern Upper Hill District, is on a twin-tower design.

Offices will be let to private companies and the Government.

There are restaurants, basement and above ground parkings, and supporting amenities.

Dr Keino said they have, as an afterthought, decided to have an ultra-modern gymnasium in the building.

Its special features will be a rotating floor with a Hall of Fame and Museum to honour Olympic medallists and heroes, high level viewing deck, state of the art office suites, and security screens.

The Olympic Plaza has been designed by Vincent Ochieng’.

"The Project Concept is derived from the abstracted form of the Olympic Rings and the Olympic Torch. This is to evoke the spirit of the Olympics and dynamism.

Upper Hill, which used to be the residential quarters for senior Government officers, has lately become popular with financial institutions like banks and insurance companies, diplomatic missions, and multi-national like Coca Cola Africa.

On completion, Nock will only be the third sports body to have built its own office block. Athletics Kenya pioneered in this lucrative real estate venture with the building of Riadha House, followed by Football Kenya Ltd, which was funded by world football governing body to but now entangled in ownership dispute.

The project has not properly been handed over to Football Kenya Federation since elections last October.

The project is funded by loans from East African Development Bank, Development Bank of Kenya, and Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation.