Built to consolidate Niger’s finance, planning and customs agencies, this 71-m-high structure is now the country’s tallest building, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer comprehensive views of the city where it is located. The 17-story building will house nearly 600 employees as well as provide public spaces. 

The project was completed in 14 months, two months ahead of schedule, despite challenges from both long lead times for materials and from COVID-19. Materials were first inspected at the manufacturer, then shipped from Turkey to Benin. From there, transport to the construction site took more than 45 days, due to difficult roads. 

When COVID-19 broke out during the second half of construction, high-risk workers were asked to leave the site and new social distancing requirements were put in place for the combined Turkish and Nigerien workforce. The project team also added new protocols to help ameliorate the risk of malaria. Despite those challenges, the project was completed on budget. 

The project participants organized technical trips to the jobsite at every stage of construction for engineering and architectural students from universities around the country. About 30 university students also were selected for internship opportunities with the team.