Addis Ababa is one of the preferable tourist destinations. Having comfy climate, welcoming hospitality, unique destinations, among others enable the city to attract more international and local tourists. Since the past few years, the city administration has been doing its level best to developing new tourist destinations, improving infrastructural developments and publicizing tourism spots. Further lodges, tourist destinations and recreations centres are expected to commence service in the near future.
In recent years, the city adds new star rated international hotels, tallest buildings, and provides vibrant and luxurious services to its guests. Unity Park, Sheger Park, and Entoto Park are also the other destinations that are open for tourists who enjoy open air recreation destination.
In today’s world, building skyscrapers becomes common. Different countries are also competing with designing and constructing unique architectural buildings; and the unique skyscrapers of the world that were designed and built artistically, are attracting huge tourists throughout the world. China, United Arab Emirates, and United States are the leading ones with their skyscrapers buildings in the world. Thus, the availability of numerous skyscrapers becomes the symbol of the largest cities of the world.
In fact, as country’s socio-economic development grows, the construction lands has become overcrowded. Thus, investors prefer to build up to the sky and save the congested construction lands.
The availability of latest construction technologies, the need for saving construction land, the growing public housing demand, increased construction investments and investors, among others expedited the construction sector’s incredible accomplishments. Currently, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest skyscraper in the world and it is considered as the identity of Dubai and millions of international tourists are visiting the building. Its height is 828 meters and costs 1.5 Billion USD to finish the construction in 2010. Merdeka 118 is the second tallest skyscraper found in Malasia. Its height is 678.9 meters.
The third tallest skyscraper is found in China and its height is 632 meters. Ethiopia has also inaugurated the tallest East African skyscraper last week. The new Commercial Bank of Ethiopia
(CBE) Head Quarters heights 209.15 meters. It consumes six years and 303.5 million USD to accomplish the 53-storey headquarters. It accommodates four underground and 49 above grounds with a total of 53 floors with a total built-up area of 165,476.4 square meters. As it is learnt, the building is the tallest structure in East Africa and the third tallest in Africa. The inauguration of the new state-ofthe-art headquarters of the CBE is also part of its 80th founding anniversary.
The CBE’s skyscraper sought to reflect the 80 years of commendable banking services in the country. Facts about CBE’s new headquarters It has three structures and while the main building has four basements, a ground floor and 48 floors, the other structures have G+6 floor and G+8 floors respectively and are equipped with most advanced technologies. The main contractor of the project was the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC).
In addition; other global companies have been taking part in the construction process. The Addis Ababa University Institute of Technology also consulted on the construction of the HQs. The HQs also maintains the 11-storey building is for a conference that has a modern assembly hall that can accommodate 2,500 people at a time.
Five small meeting halls with a capacity of 300 people and 200 seats are also part of conference halls. It has staff cafeterias and a bank branch. It also includes state-ofthe-art cinema hall with five rooms, malls, gymnasium, beauty salon, children’s amusement park, game zone, restaurants, among others. The first floor of the main building is a permanent exhibition hall; from the 2nd to the 46th floors are the offices of the HQs of the Bank.
The 47th and 48th floors are cafeteria and recreation areas. It has 24 elevators, 26 scaffolds. The four floors have a range of up to 1,500 including a state-of-the-art mechanical cars parking, as well as a variety of other services.
The entire building has modern fire protection and CCTV cameras, media facilities, and three high-rise refurbished floors in the tallest building. The HQs is built with modern security systems. It is equipped with a special technology called IBM to save water and electricity.
A thorough study has been done to carry out the construction and it has taken its own time to find the site. It took seven years to identify the right building design and construction facility. The building is state-of-the-art and incorporates an unusual structure in Ethiopia.
The construction of the building was carried out under the supervision of Addis Ababa University Institute of Technology (AAiT) by the Chinese Government Construction Engineering Corporation. In sum, skyscrapers are increasingly dominating urban skylines around the world.
The skyscrapers will immensely contribute to promote the international tourists inflow if it entertains the requirements of artistic, cultural, pronature, and furbished with ancient and historical architectural design.
Numerous tourists will be attracted if skyscraper is unique rather than being sizable and tallest.
BY TEWODROS KASSA
The Ethiopian Herald 18 February 2022
