Saint Gobain opens its experience center at its new representative office in Nairobi. More than a mere showroom, this space will enable the visitor to discover and experience how Saint – Gobain building solutions can make a difference in people’s daily life. Whether it is through digital interactive access points or practical experiences around comfort, it aims to be a place for professionals to network and expand their knowledge of building systems and materials. Throughout the year, thematic events will be organized to tackle specific topics within Kenya’s building and construction industry.
Experiencing comfort
Conceptualized to be informative and engaging, the experience center is fitted with digital access points and practical experiences around comfort.
“We invite visitors to feel, touch, see and hear. Through different experiences to explain sound or thermal transmission, we try to demonstrate how our solutions can have an impact on our daily life,” says Sachin Ramkasoon, Business Development Director for East Africa.
Digital displays show why comfort matters. The DB station, a mobile application, enables the visitor to experience various acoustic performances of conventional wall compared to Gyproc walls.
Visitors will also discover Saint-Gobain’s innovative solutions through the building itself. From the floor to the ceiling and walls, the experience center and office space incorporate different Saint-Gobain materials that can improve comfort. The flooring area has been coated with Saint-Gobain Weber self levelling screed. Saint-Gobain Gyproc and Ecophon acoustic ceiling panels were installed to improve acoustic. Visitors will also be surprised to discover laminated glass solutions that can switch from translucent to transparent immediately thanks to a liquid crystal.
“The experience center aims to be a place where our different stakeholders within the construction sector feel welcome, a place where they can share expertise and where we can listen to their needs,” adds Sachin Ramkasoon.
A footprint in Kenya since 2014
Saint-Gobain is a driver in the development of the Kenyan fabric through the services and solutions it delivers to improve living comfort for the greatest number of people. The Group creates local employment and offers a wide range of training courses to up skill professionals within the construction industry.
“In Kenya, the average unemployment rate is about 11%. It is critical for us to provide distributors, craftsmen and artisans with the necessary technical skills on new construction technology. In 2018, we trained 170people from the different sectors within the construction industry in Kenya on the installation of ceilings, drywalling and insulation,” says Sachin Ramkasoon. Saint-Gobain solutions feature in various projects in Nairobi. To mention a few:
- The new Booking.com offices have been fitted with Ecophon Solo™ acoustic ceiling panels. It creates open spaces where people can work and perform with minimum noise.
- The Palazzo has been dressed with about 8000 m2 of Saint-Gobain glazing.
- The new Uber offices benefits from Saint-Gobain partitions and insulation solutions.
- The IMAX Cinema at Garden City has been constructed with Saint-Gobain drywalls, insulation and ceiling systems.
- In 2017, as part of the Water and Sanitation Service Improvement Project Saint-Gobain PAM provided 45 km of pipes to supply water and sanitation services to Mombasa, Gongoni, Kakuyuni, Malindi and Kilifi.
To conclude, because solidarity is a core value at Saint-Gobain, the Group also supports the development of local communities. In 2014, the Saint-Gobain Initiatives Foundation contributed to the complete refurbishment of four classrooms at Nagum Primary School where 370 pupils take turns for their lessons. Local companies were consulted to perform the work.
ABOUT SAINT -GOBAIN:
Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions which are key ingredients in the well-being of each of us and the future of all. They can be found everywhere in our living places and our daily life: in buildings, transportation, and infrastructure and in many industrial applications. They provide comfort, performance and safety while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and climate change. Visit our website for more information: www.saint-gobain-africa.com
