SMARTING from its economic reform and monetary policies that have engendered confidence in the financial system, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has begun moves to consolidate its hold in the real estate sector by proposing the construction of an International Conference Centre and a five star hotel in Abuja.
Tender calls for provision of architecture consultancy services for the multi purpose centre is already on and would last for another one week. The project involves the conversion of the old NITEL building to an international conference centre with multi-purpose halls - conference halls, auditoria, communication centres and syndicate rooms), business centres, hotel (five star), shopping complex, restaurant, banks and a sport centre.
Coming under CBN’s 2011 capital projects, the bank plans to undertake an architectural design competition in order to select the best design concept for implementation on the project.
The tendering process may fall in line with the new guideline issued by the Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria (ACAN), which made it mandatory for promoters of such competition to pay honourium for design concepts of professional architects, if it is for selected firms while in publicised competition, prizes or monetary reward must be given to the finalists.
Sources disclosed that the competition is open to professionally recognised architectural firms within and outside Nigeria. However, international firms must present evidence of collaboration with a suitable and registered Nigerian architectural firm.
Prospective applicants are expected to provide evidence of registration with Corporate Affairs Commission, certified true copy of Memorandum and Article of Association, evidence of employees’ Retirement Savings Account (RSA) with Pension Fund Administrators, evidence of remitting employer and employees’ pension contribution to appropriate pension fund custodian, evidence of transferring all pension funds and assets prior to the commencement of the Pension Reform Act to licensed pension operators, as well as evidence of registration with Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and evidence of payment of tax for the last three years as at when due. Such evidence should reflect the value of the projects undertaken by the firm in the last three years.
Similarly, the architectural firms from outside Nigeria must provide evidence of registration with their others registration bodies and evidence of participation in similar projects in magnitude and complexity (of value not less than N5 billion) which are either awarded or completed.
Other requirements include corporate profile of the firm including curriculum vitae of key personnel, supported by professional licenses, verifiable reference of related services rendered in the last three years and references of satisfactory performance on similar projects from three previous clients.
The new tendering is coming on heels of the completion of its head office complex in Abuja designed by Messrs Interstate Architects Limited referred to as an “intelligent building” The building was installed with fully Intelligent Building Management System (IBMS), which regulates all the building services and also integrates the security.
The CBN Head Office stands out as a unique landmark in the Federal Capital Territory landscape. It features a conference centre/auditorium designed to accommodate up to 500 people for National and International conferences with back up facilities. Other facilities, include simultaneous translation from six translation booths, press and television coverage accommodation, including a press gallery for 50 persons.
Source: The Guardian Nigeria Online