Kenya Olympic body to build rotating museum in Nairobi

The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (Nock) is building a rotating museum and hall of fame in Nairobi to celebrate the achievements of Olympic champions.

The facility, which will be located on the top floor of the proposed 16-storey Olympic Plaza in the Upper Hill area of Nairobi, will allow visitors a 360 degree view of the city as the room rotates.

“The rotating portion of the floor is on a turntable system supported by stainless steel structures embedded in strong concrete while the rotation mechanism is to be synchronised by a motor powered system,” says Vincent Ochieng, the project architect.

The museum will be complemented by a rooftop garden with a viewing deck, where visitors can relax and enjoy panoramic views of Nairobi. It will feature a hall-of-fame for Olympic champions.

The Olympic Plaza, whose excavation work commence April 2012, is located on Kenya Road, Upper Hill – closely opposite Crowne Plaza Hotel. The building is scheduled for completion later this year.

The project is aimed to help Nock sustain its operations and to carry out its mission of sponsoring more Kenyan athletes to take part in future competitions.

“We have to sustain ourselves so we can support more of our sports personalities so we decided to build something of high standards to give us a regular income,” said Nock’s chairman, Kipchoge Keino.

Mr Keino said part of the office suites will be offered for sale while the rest will be retained by Nock.

The building comprises 80 office suites, basement and above-ground parking, restaurant, gym, viewing deck, terraces and a roof garden.

It will be the second building in Nairobi to have a rotating floor after the KICC whose 28th floor hosts the once popular rotating restaurant.

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