By KJ Odongo
In summary
- The move is aimed at providing fresh and positive workspace for EABL employees
- EABL management has signed a long-term deal to take up Grade A office space within Garden City Business Park
- The deal signing was done ahead of the official ground-breaking of GCBP adjacent to the current EABL offices in Ruaraka
- EABL’s current commercial office block was unveiled in 1972 and has been the operational nerve centre of the company’s business
- The first commercial office phase is scheduled for completion in Q2 of 2019 and will be the newest addition to the overall 47-acre Garden City mixed used project, offering an important office address for both single corporate headquarters and multi-tenant occupancy.
East African Breweries Limited (EABL) and Actis, a leading growth markets investor, have announced the signing of a long-term deal with Garden City Business Park (GCBP) that will see EABL take up a considerable amount of Grade A office space at the integrated development complex.
The deal signing was done ahead of the official groundbreaking of GCBP adjacent to the current EABL offices in Ruaraka, Nairobi. EABL’s current commercial office block was unveiled in 1972 and has been the operational nerve centre of the company’s business since then.
EABL Managing Director Andrew Cowan commented:
“We are looking forward to moving some of our corporate functions into the new offices. A good working environment for our employees is something we place a big premium on. This move ensures the teams moving in can reside in a fresh and positive workspace allowing everyone who works for EABL to do their best work and continue to build our fantastic, iconic East African brands.”
Commenting on the new deal Chris Coulson, MD of mixed-use development, Garden City on Thika Super Highway, said:
“We are delighted to have signed a pre-let agreement with EABL as our first tenants to take up space in Garden City’s new office complex, which is just phase one of the larger 60,000 m2 Business Park development still to come. We look forward to welcoming other tenants in search of world-class office space over the coming months.”
The first commercial office phase is scheduled for completion in Q2 of 2019 and will be the newest addition to the overall 47-acre Garden City mixed used project, offering an important office address for both single corporate headquarters and multi-tenant occupancy. Construction first commenced at Garden City at exit 7 on Thika Superhighway in July 2013 and the Business Park, spread across 15-acres within the master plan, is the second stage of the overall development.
Designed by a team of international architects for both functionality and comfort, the Business Park will offer over 25,000 m2 of lettable Grade A offices, with a healthcare facility, two hotels and over 400 mid-market residential units to follow.
The office complex will comprise a secure entrance, green spaces and a pedestrianised boulevard linking it to over 100 shops in Garden City Mall, 215 residential units in Garden City Village and the 3-acre central park. These integrated amenities complete ‘the perfect mix’ of the ‘live, work and play’ themed Garden City mixed-use development with its vast range of retail, dining, leisure and hospitality options offering excellent add-on value to the anticipated 3,000-strong office community.