Nairobi Central Station, Nairobi, Kenya for Kenya Railway Company with AtkinsRéalis

Nairobi Central Station (NCS) is currently an under-utilised station with a large adjoining 4.7ha brown field site. The concept is to create a ‘Boma’ - a traditional place within Kenyan for meetings and coming together as a community. NCS creates an open place for the people of Nairobi to come together as a new landmark and positive identity for the centre of Nairobi.

Who is on the project team?

Design Lead - AtkinsRealis 

Design and Engineering Support -  Howard Humphrey’s 

Quantity Surveyor -  Mace 

Describe the context of this project, its neighbourhood and people?

Nairobi was established in 1899 from the establishment of the rail network running from Uganda through to the port of Mombassa. Now the capital of Kenya the city includes a National Park within the city borders, a colonial established grid structured CBD and a sprawling urban expansion of vibrant districts with street markets and commercial spaces to the east. Nairobi Central Station (NCS) is currently an under-utilised station with a large adjoining 4.7ha brown field site. The site sits at the crossroads of Moi Avenue and Haile Selassie Avenue that separate the CBD to the west from the vibrant districts to the east. The train line severs pedestrian connection between the city centre in the north and the residential districts on the southern side of the city. AtkinsRealis have completed the RIBA design stages 2 and 3 for the Station building, Boma Park, Railway Square and People’s Walk. The station has been designed to accommodate a peak of 30,000 passengers per hour. We have been delighted to see this project evolve and excited to see the changes it could bring to the city to address the environmental, economic and social challenges it faces. Nairobi Central Station is a catalyst for change in the city.

What is the social and environmental impact of the project? For example, how will the carbon use and material impact of the development be mitigated? What is the sustainability strategy? How will this future place contribute to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of its citizens?  

NCS has been designed to support the social and environmental challenges of Nairobi. Water Management measures include, Station roof structure collects water into large storage tanks (1500m3 capacity), rainfall collection alleviates flooding pressure in the winter, stored water is used for irrigation requirements of the Boma Park, Railway Square and People’s Walk during dry season, the Boma Park is sculpted to attenuate water during flash floods (up to 1 in 100 year events), network of rain gardens, bio-swales and terracing provided to manage rainfall, grey water is recycled and re-used within the station. Climate Resilience has been addressed through, microclimate analysis has been used to inform the design, shading and shelter, a central oculus within the station roof manages passive heating and cooling, biodiversity is an important part of the scheme with all of the Kenyan tribes represented in the different trees specified, seasonal change, colour and all year round interest is delivered through the planting mixes reflecting the different dry and wet seasons and to support an active wildlife ecosystem within the city.

Please explain the governance of the project, such as its viability, purpose, motivation and any consultation and community engagement undertaken. 

 Nairobi Central Station sits at the heart of the wider Railway City Masterplan. The site is of strategic importance for the regeneration of the city centre and in the wider upgrade of the railway network running between Uganda and Mombassa. Beyond the regeneration of the city and upgrade to the network the station improvements will create a new landmark and positive identity for the centre of Nairobi. The Boma concept creates a meeting place for people and nature within the heart of the Nairobi. For AtkinsRealis it was the opportunity to make a real difference to Nairobi through a holistic design approach that really excited us. Positive transformational change will be achieved through the delivery of this project. We have engaged with community groups through the evolution of the design. A structured programme of workshops, presentations and engagement was carried out with a diverse representation of community groups. These included ex mayors, local architects, street traders, community groups and local residents. The sessions were held online and in person. We also engaged with a broad representation from across Kenya Rail’s client team, the local planning authorities and government agencies.