Sanlam Tower Nairobi

Sanlam Tower is a 343,000 square foot state-of-the-art green office complex located on Waiyaki Way in the heart of Nairobi. Setting a new benchmark for high-rise buildings in East Africa.

The Sh2.7 billion Sanlam Towers will be one of the tallest buildings on Waiyaki Way, with approximately three floors to be Sanlam’s headquarters and the rest to be leased to other companies.

Sanlam Tower is designed to provide economic benefits to tenants through environmentally friendly cross ventilation and daylighting. The building features anti-glare windows that reduce direct sunlight while providing ample lighting, eliminating the need for electric lights during daylight hours.

Sanlam Tower was designed by Triad and Gapp Architects, and constructed by Seyani Brothers Construction and supervised by Acorn Management.

At the heart of the tower’s design are a number of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly building systems:

Glass
For environmental reasons, the design uses 13mm thick clear laminated double-layer tempered high-performance glass, replacing traditional air conditioning systems. "This insulating glass reflects heat while allowing light into the building, reducing glare. It also promotes heat build-up and absorbs heat from the roof.

Natural Cross Ventilation
Natural cross ventilation refers to the use of no mechanical systems to supply and exhaust air to interior spaces. This passive design seeks to use natural air pressure and force to draw air into the building, and is the most economical way to cool and ventilate the space from both an economic and environmental perspective. Successful cross ventilation depends on having high thermal comfort levels and sufficient fresh air in the occupants' spaces, while providing limited or no energy for active HVAC cooling and ventilation.

The building features a double window system, which helps improve air flow. "To maximize ventilation, you need to maximize the pressure difference between the air inlet and outlet. In most cases, the pressure on the air inlet side of the building is higher, while the pressure on the air outlet side is lower. This method is more convenient because it helps prevent excess moisture and heat from accumulating on the ceiling. If you want cooler air, you can open the bottom windows to allow warm air to rise and ventilate the room.