Allied Works a finalist for Aga Khan University’s new facility in Nairobi, Kenya
Jun 1, 2012
After a series of conversations in early 2012, Allied Works was selected as a finalist for the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi, Kenya. AKU operates campuses in Pakistan and Tanzania and undertakes programs and coursework throughout the developing world. Nairobi is a major media hub for East Africa, and the establishment of a free, independent and indigenous press has been an important priority for His Highness the Aga Khan since the founding of the Nation Media Group in 1959.
Situated on a constrained site in the Parklands District of Nairobi, the new facility will provide 19,000m2 of new space for the Graduate School of Media and Communications, the Graduate School of Management, and supplemental commercial space for startup business and new media outlets. Allied Works’ design creates a field of interlocking courtyards and towers that allow for flexible programming, phased expansion, optimal climate response and numerous centers of identity for the constituent programs. At the same time, a perforated facade of local stone provides a unified presence on the street and creates an architectural expression that forges a strong link between the building traditions of the AKU and those of East Africa and the Rift Valley.
After a series of conversations in early 2012, Allied Works was selected as a finalist for the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi, Kenya. AKU operates campuses in Pakistan and Tanzania and undertakes programs and coursework throughout the developing world. Nairobi is a major media hub for East Africa, and the establishment of a free, independent and indigenous press has been an important priority for His Highness the Aga Khan since the founding of the Nation Media Group in 1959.
Situated on a constrained site in the Parklands District of Nairobi, the new facility will provide 19,000m2 of new space for the Graduate School of Media and Communications, the Graduate School of Management, and supplemental commercial space for startup business and new media outlets. Allied Works’ design creates a field of interlocking courtyards and towers that allow for flexible programming, phased expansion, optimal climate response and numerous centers of identity for the constituent programs. At the same time, a perforated facade of local stone provides a unified presence on the street and creates an architectural expression that forges a strong link between the building traditions of the AKU and those of East Africa and the Rift Valley.