For over 500 years, the Vatican City, and the great Pyramid of Egypt have set the precedent for what has become the foundation of modern-day engineering, giving us the blueprint for constructing some of the most incredible landmarks ever created on earth.
-Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele
The principles that
govern the structural integrity of any building are universal. Whether you are
building in Japan or Ijebu Ode, the structural principles used in both distant
regions would present the same result when matched.
Buildings don’t just
collapse all of a sudden; buildings are bound to crumble because of the
underlying factors that pose major concerns: defects in design, compromises in
the quality of the foundation, or compromises in the quality of materials used
to erect such structures.
The persistent story of
collapsed buildings isn’t a new phenomenon in the universe. There are a handful
of buildings collapsing in Miami, Cape Town, and even Lagos Island. This
happens because such structures weren’t built to last for more than 20 years,
while in the same vein, some structures like the Burj Khalifa, Empire State
Building, Kuala Lumpur Twin Tower, and even the over 500-year-old Vatican City
are clear samples of architectural marvels designed to stand the test of time.
Selica is clearly not a
Ferrari; there is a fundamental difference between erecting a skyscraper and
building a Terrace or 2-floor apartment. Be it a 1004 type of finishing or a
Sujimoto type of finishing, a developer can compromise standards in fixing
tiles, windows, or doors, but you can’t compromise the structural integrity of
any building above five floors: the quality of the concrete mix, the strength
of the steel, and the foundation on which it sits must meet the international
standard for structural integrity.
There is always much more
to a building than meets the eye. A wide gamut of factors determines the
lifespan of a property. That is why we traveled all over the world to study the
best of ancient engineering. We have critically studied how the most majestic
structures in the world have lived to stand the test of time, from the (2570
BC) great Pyramid of Giza to the architectural prowess of the Kuala Lumpur Twin
Tower, which has stood for almost half a century. We realized that beyond the
beauty and architectural masterpieces of these structures, they were
meticulously and intentionally built to stand the test of time.
Because we love building
high rises, our current audacious project, LucreziaBySujimoto, prompted us to
research global best practices for what it takes to create a building that will
outlive us. In this quest, we studied historical landmarks built as a result of
incredible artistry and breathtaking engineering. We sourced the best hands
from across the globe while training local architects and engineers through a
collaborative approach.
In 2017, we also visited
the team of engineers, geniuses behind the tallest building in the world, the
Burj Khalifa, a vertical city that sprawls 163 stories into the skies of Dubai,
as well as the ingenuity designers behind New York city’s historical landmark
that has stood for almost a century, the Empire State Building. One of our
findings revealed that these engineers spend excessive time in design, an
extensive period of planning while following a well-mapped-out strategy in
execution. These set of engineers ensure they cross all t’s and dot all i’s,
giving room for zero tolerance for any mistake in structural integrity.
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One thing these
remarkable feats of engineers have in common is that the methodology behind the
execution of these projects is a clear indication that skyscrapers built in any
corner of the universe can be designed and constructed to last for centuries if
only it follows the philosophy and design of structural integrity.
When we started Sujimoto
in 2014, we realized that the pace at which buildings were being dotted across
every corner of Lagos State was at an alarming rate. There are so many
developers delivering legbegbe ‘mal-structural’ properties to prospective home
buyers in various neighborhoods in Nigeria, but our vision for Sujimoto was to
erect buildings that won’t only be stunning and magnificent, but structures
that can stand for over 200 years.
We have studied the global champions in Architecture from different parts of the globe, we’ve also carried out an extensive research in studying the best of the best in our region, we realized that great construction companies like Julius Berger and Cappa & D’Alberto though operating in local regions also have a Standard Operating Procedure that meets the global ethics of construction.
It is clear and evident
that any modern-day architecture, whether in the richest neighborhoods of Miami
or the suburbs of Gwagwalada, if not conformed with the structural principles
and the best design methodology, is bound to crumble under the weight of time,
leaving only ruins as ageless reminders that when you negotiate the value of
quality, you pay the price for mediocrity.
For us, compromising was
never an option. In building a vertical city or skyscraper, we knew that
structural integrity had to be engrained within our walls. We’ve studied the
construction methodologies used centuries ago, the foundation of which is
reflected in all our projects. From the making of the tallest and most
sophisticated residential building in Banana Island, the 15-floor
LucreziaBySujimoto, an ultra-luxurious edifice with magnificent maisonettes and
two of Africa's best designed penthouses, to the meticulous design of
LeonardoBySujimoto waterfront project, a 25-storey vertical city development
nested in Africa’s most exclusive neighborhood-Banana Island’s next most
luxurious project, LeonardoBySujimoto.
Designed to last more
than a century
Personally, I guarantee
that the Lucrezia, as well as our other audacious projects: The Leonardo, The
Queen Amina mixed-use project Located in the prime neighborhood of Abuja, and
the Sujimoto Twin Towers (STT) - an audacious 44-storey, first-of-its-kind,
one-of-a-kind tower deemed to be the tallest twin tower in Africa, are among an
array of high-rise buildings designed to stand for the next 200 years.
The reason we have this
authority is because we have consulted with the best hands. We’ve brought onboard
a household of experts ranging from the best designers, to the highest-ranking
engineers and architects in vertical structure, a team of engineers who have
designed 50-100 storey buildings both in Singapore and Dubai. We visited Dubai
to study the Burj Khalifa, a building that has been designed to last for over
1000 years. We have also meticulously studied the types of underground
infrastructures that make up their foundation, the piles, as well as the
concrete type utilized in erecting the 500,000 tonnes maga structure.
We didn’t just stop
there, back home in Nigeria, we work with Sanni, Ojo & Partners (SOP) one
of the best structural engineering companies in Nigeria, not only to be our
local engineering partner but also to supervise and be instrumental in the
execution of each slab and columns.
At Sujimoto, we are not
your usual real estate development firms; we pride ourselves as luxury
bricklayers. We are very attentive to the type of sand we use, the quality of
blocks, the quality of cement, and the quality of steel being used for our
projects. We go the extra mile in contracting third party professionals who are
mandated to carry out checks and balances on our projects and team of workers,
ensuring we maintain our core values of addiction to quality and the quest to
achieving the best in structural integrity. We invest a lot of research in
making sure our buildings are designed to meet the highest standards, which is
why I, Dr. Olasijibomi Ogundele, personally guarantee the Nigerian public that
our buildings will last over 200 years.
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We would like to commend
the efforts of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, and
Lagos state Building Control Agency (LASBCA) for the amazing work being carried
out to ensure buildings being constructed are in accordance with the ethics of
structural integrity. I would like to extend my utmost respect to the Permanent
Secretary, Engr. Oluwole Sotire, who worked endlessly while I was in his office
at 10:00 p.m. on Friday. I saw his resilience and his unwavering commitment to
excellence, ensuring the housing and infrastructure sectors thrive on a
pedestal of global standard.
Dr. Olasijibomi Ogundele
is the Managing Director of Sujimoto Group, the Czar of Luxury Real Estate
Development, and the mastermind developer behind the renowned Giuliano. Our
other audacious projects, such as; the most sophisticated building in Banana
Island, LucreziaBySujimoto, the grandiose Sujimoto Twin Tower, -the tallest
twin towers in Africa; the regal Queen Amina by Sujimoto, a monument to royal
affluence; the magnificent high-rise LeonardoBySujimoto; Nigeria’s No. 1 most
affordable luxury housing – Ìlú Titun, and Africa’s most exclusive waterfront
townhouses GiovanniBySujimoto, some of which have etched an indelible imprint on
Nigeria’s skylines, a testament to their unrivalled mastery of modern day
engineering.
We are relentless in our
attention to every detail.
– Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele
This article was inspired
by Mr. Benny Opazo, an astounding individual who has consistently reminded me
of the importance of integrity; not only in oneself but in the structures we
put in place.
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