LUMEN SQUARE , nairobi

Lumen Square is a pioneering commercial development in Nairobi demonstrating that high-performance green buildings can be achieved without added cost—and in some cases at lower cost than conventional construction. The project, now LEED Silver certified, began with the demolition of existing apartment blocks with many of the materials carefully salvaged and reused in other developments, a process that was documented to support sustainable construction practices.

UGC was engaged from the earliest stages of development working closely with the architects and engineers to integrate sustainability into the core of the design. Through advanced building performance simulations - including daylight, ventilation and energy modelling - UGC helped guide the team in developing a form and envelope that would deliver optimal passive performance.

The result is a building that maximises natural daylight, enables cross ventilation and avoids the need for mechanical cooling altogether. Features such as optimised floor plates, controlled window-to-wall ratios and effective shading contribute to an energy-efficient design that significantly reduces both capital and operational costs. The project stands as a leading example of how sustainability, performance and affordability can align seamlessly in commercial architecture.