Rendeavour, Africa’s largest urban land developer, has appointed Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) for master planning services in connection with Jigna, Rendeavour’s joint venture urban development project in Abuja.
With a track record including landmark projects such as One World Trade Centre in New York and the Hajj Terminal in Saudi Arabia, SOM will ensure that the firm’s experience from these projects and others, such as the master plans for Phu My Hung Community in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia and the Baietan Urban Design Master Plan in Guangzhou, China, will be brought to bear on Jigna.
“Jigna is a compelling project to address Abuja’s continued urban growth with world-class aspirations,” said Daniel Ringelstein, Director of Urban Design and Planning at SOM.
“We are excited by Jigna’s vision to create a modern community promoting a tranquil lifestyle in an environmentally stunning location just a short commute from Abuja’s bustling city centre.”
Jigna, which sits on 707 hectares (1,750 acres) of land bordering the Outer Northern Expressway of Abuja, has already received its Environmental Impact Assessment approval from the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, as well as its temporary electricity infrastructure approval from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
The project will be centered on the protection and enhancement of the site’s unique natural landscape environment, as well as providing a sustainable model for future urban communities in Africa.
“Our collaboration with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is a landmark agreement for Jigna and Rendeavour,” said Rendeavour’s Nigeria Country Head, Yomi Ademola.
“Sensitive and comprehensive strategic planning is the bedrock of forward-thinking urban development and we are certain that SOM’s global experience will contribute to us creating the most attractive urban development in Nigeria’s capital,” he added.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is one of the leading architecture, interior design, engineering, and urban planning firms in the world, with an 80-year reputation for design excellence and a portfolio that includes some of the most important architectural accomplishments of the 20th and 21st centuries. Since its inception, SOM has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment.
