As urbanization increases through folks moving from rural areas to enjoy the amenities of city living changes in the landscape are sure to follow. This is especially true in the changing infrastructure across sub-Saharan Africa as we see more urban centers investing in note-worthy sky scrapers. Some notable skyscrapers across Africa include the Carlton Center in South Africa, UAP Tower in Kenya, and NECOM House in Nigeria.
The Leonardo is no exception, it is a 55-story building which measures 745 feet (227 meters) in height and is 15 feet taller than the previous record holder, the Carlton Centre, which has dominated the Johannesburg skyline since 1973. This new structure was Designed by South African firm Co-Arc International Architects, and contains mixed-use spaces such as offices, shops, apartments, hotel rooms, parking, and even indoor landscaped gardens.
A noteworthy fact from the building’s life-story is that the team of architects that managed the construction was primarily female-led -with nine of the 11 positions held by women. This is especially commendable given that the South African Institute of Architects in the Eastern Cape estimates that only 21% of the country’s registered architects are women.
Infrastructure Changes re-calibrate the emotional signatures of an area. Spatial modifications such as the Leonardo help in creating avenues through which new innovations, social norms, and long-term visions are implemented across the continent regarding the future of engineering, architecture and overall development.
