The
National Assembly complex of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is an
eye-catching architectural masterpiece that houses a bicameral
legislature established under section 4 of the Nigerian
Constitution consisting of a Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives. The body, scissored after the federal Congress of the United States, is designed to guarantee equal representation of the states irrespective of size in the Senate and proportional representation of population in the House.
The National Assembly complex is located in the three arm zone of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. With its distinctive features and dome shaped roof, it is one of the architectural landmarks in the Nigeria capital city of Abuja. The symbolic complex was constructed by I.T.B. Nigeria Limited, part of the construction division of the Chagoury Group which was established in 1995. The construction company which has a growing demand for specialist, civil engineering services is one of the few civil engineering and construction firms whose head office and main operations are in Africa.
The
award of contract for the construction of the parliamentary edifice was
made on February 18, 1996 by the Federal Capital Development Authority
the prime consultants under the auspices of the Federal government of
Nigeria with a contract sum of N7.0 billion. I.T.B Nigeria Limited was
saddled with the responsibility of designing and constructing two
chambers of the National Assembly Complex which comprises the House of
Representatives and Senate, a Library, Restaurant, Offices and
associated external works within a stipulated period of 30 months. The
complex came to live in 1998
The
National assembly complex was modeled after ‘The United States
Capitol’, atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in
Washington, D.C. Capitol is the seat of the United States Congress, the
legislative branch of the U.S. Federal Government, completed in the year
1800.
The National assembly complex consists of 40,000 square metres gross floor area of concrete structure for both the legislative and senatorial arm of the National assembly. The two chambers of the complex is serviced by a central atrium. The complex is composed of a large lobby with a dome at a height of 50 metres,and the two chambers for the house of representatives and Senators, accommodating 650 seats and 150 seats respectively.
The extremely short construction period (30 months), made it necessary for ITB Nigeria limited to develop a construction system to meet the project deadline. The structural element was therefore a combination of insitu concrete and pre-cast elements. The internal partitions are in plastered and painted concrete block walls, with high quality profile aluminium glazed windows and doors. The ceiling is finished with acoustic suspended ceiling type while the floor is finished with a combination of vitrified tiles, marble tiles and granite tiles.
The state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical installation includes a central air-conditioning system, fire fighting and fire detection system, access control systems and standby generators.
The complex has been provided with a sophisticated voting system, sound distribution system, building management system and close circuit T.V. (CCTV). There are also meeting rooms, hearing rooms, committee rooms, single offices for elected members, and a clinic, library and printing room. The complex includes a 80,000 square metres ceremonial plaza, which can accommodate more than 1000 people at any one time.
The dome of the National assembly- an ancient architectural adoption of developed countries has been a subject of controversy towing along religious lines. Atop the dome is the nation’s coat of arm.
A
dome (from Latin: domus) is an architectural element that resembles the
hollow upper half of a sphere. Even its precise definition has been a
matter of controversy. Domes have a wide variety of forms and
specialized terms to describe them. A dome can rest upon a rotunda or
drum as it is with the dome of the National assembly complex. It can be
supported by columns or piers, that transition to the dome through
squinches or pendentives. A lantern may cover an oculus and may itself
have another dome.
Domes
have a long architectural lineage that extends back into prehistory and
they have been constructed from mud, stone, wood, brick, concrete,
metal, glass, and plastic over the centuries. The symbolism associated
with domes includes mortuary, celestial, and governmental traditions
that have likewise developed over time.
However,
the dome of the National Assembly building complex has raised eye brows
over the years as to its symbol. Some argue that it has Islamic
affiliations though what seats atop the dome is the country’s coat of
arm. That brings me to this question; Is the dome really a symbol of
Islam? That’s a topic for another day.
Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara were yesterday elected as senate president and speaker of the upper and lower house of the country’s bicameral National assembly respectively.
Constitution consisting of a Senate and a 360-member House of Representatives. The body, scissored after the federal Congress of the United States, is designed to guarantee equal representation of the states irrespective of size in the Senate and proportional representation of population in the House.
The National Assembly complex is located in the three arm zone of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. With its distinctive features and dome shaped roof, it is one of the architectural landmarks in the Nigeria capital city of Abuja. The symbolic complex was constructed by I.T.B. Nigeria Limited, part of the construction division of the Chagoury Group which was established in 1995. The construction company which has a growing demand for specialist, civil engineering services is one of the few civil engineering and construction firms whose head office and main operations are in Africa.
The
award of contract for the construction of the parliamentary edifice was
made on February 18, 1996 by the Federal Capital Development Authority
the prime consultants under the auspices of the Federal government of
Nigeria with a contract sum of N7.0 billion. I.T.B Nigeria Limited was
saddled with the responsibility of designing and constructing two
chambers of the National Assembly Complex which comprises the House of
Representatives and Senate, a Library, Restaurant, Offices and
associated external works within a stipulated period of 30 months. The
complex came to live in 1998The
National assembly complex was modeled after ‘The United States
Capitol’, atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall in
Washington, D.C. Capitol is the seat of the United States Congress, the
legislative branch of the U.S. Federal Government, completed in the year
1800.The National assembly complex consists of 40,000 square metres gross floor area of concrete structure for both the legislative and senatorial arm of the National assembly. The two chambers of the complex is serviced by a central atrium. The complex is composed of a large lobby with a dome at a height of 50 metres,and the two chambers for the house of representatives and Senators, accommodating 650 seats and 150 seats respectively.
The extremely short construction period (30 months), made it necessary for ITB Nigeria limited to develop a construction system to meet the project deadline. The structural element was therefore a combination of insitu concrete and pre-cast elements. The internal partitions are in plastered and painted concrete block walls, with high quality profile aluminium glazed windows and doors. The ceiling is finished with acoustic suspended ceiling type while the floor is finished with a combination of vitrified tiles, marble tiles and granite tiles.
The state-of-the-art mechanical and electrical installation includes a central air-conditioning system, fire fighting and fire detection system, access control systems and standby generators.
The complex has been provided with a sophisticated voting system, sound distribution system, building management system and close circuit T.V. (CCTV). There are also meeting rooms, hearing rooms, committee rooms, single offices for elected members, and a clinic, library and printing room. The complex includes a 80,000 square metres ceremonial plaza, which can accommodate more than 1000 people at any one time.
The dome of the National assembly- an ancient architectural adoption of developed countries has been a subject of controversy towing along religious lines. Atop the dome is the nation’s coat of arm.
A
dome (from Latin: domus) is an architectural element that resembles the
hollow upper half of a sphere. Even its precise definition has been a
matter of controversy. Domes have a wide variety of forms and
specialized terms to describe them. A dome can rest upon a rotunda or
drum as it is with the dome of the National assembly complex. It can be
supported by columns or piers, that transition to the dome through
squinches or pendentives. A lantern may cover an oculus and may itself
have another dome.Domes
have a long architectural lineage that extends back into prehistory and
they have been constructed from mud, stone, wood, brick, concrete,
metal, glass, and plastic over the centuries. The symbolism associated
with domes includes mortuary, celestial, and governmental traditions
that have likewise developed over time.However,
the dome of the National Assembly building complex has raised eye brows
over the years as to its symbol. Some argue that it has Islamic
affiliations though what seats atop the dome is the country’s coat of
arm. That brings me to this question; Is the dome really a symbol of
Islam? That’s a topic for another day.Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara were yesterday elected as senate president and speaker of the upper and lower house of the country’s bicameral National assembly respectively.
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