25 Sep 2016

President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama has officially unveiled the iconic iTowers development in the Gaborone Central Business District (CBD).

In his remarks at the CBD launch, prior to the iTowers unveiling, President Khama awarded the “tallest building” in the country status of iTowers, because “with its 29 floors, together with its peers clearly define the city skyline seen from far.”

In the past, Orapa House used to be regarded as the tallest structure in Gaborone, followed by Poso House. 

When welcoming dignitaries at iTowers unveiling on Friday, iTowers director, Mr Gaurang Mooney, said Cityskapes, the developers of iTowers precinct, were pleased that iTowers’ launch coincided with Botswana’s 50^th anniversary of independence celebrations.

“The success of Cityskapes is after all, a reflection of Botswana’s success,” he added.

Therefore, to mark the occasion, he said Cityskapes would contribute two houses to the Presidential Housing Appeal.

In 2009, when they first conceived the iTowers idea, Mr Mooney said their self-belief, determination and courage were tested.“Our idea was to construct tall buildings in the heart of the new CBD, which would be owned by ordinary citizens and provide a convenient lifestyle by combining retail, commercial, residential and leisure space,” he said.

These iconic buildings, he said they wanted them to ‘be built to stringent, international standards with passive energy design and smart technology.’

He said they were nervous and unsure about their project, because high-rise buildings of 19 and 28 storeys were not common in Botswana.

 “So, the expertise is not readily available. Everyone involved in this project was learning,” he added.

He said Cityskapes chairman, Mr Manhar Mooney, did not think it was sensible to build the high-rise building and urged them to ‘just build eight floors and be over with it.’

“We couldn’t find a single bank which felt confident about the concept. It was a seemingly ludicrous idea; a high-rise, mixed-use, sectional title development in the new CBD. But, we believed in ourselves and our idea,” he said.

However, through working together with mutual respect, responsibility and accountability they managed to pull it off, adding that majority of towers belonged to Batswana.

The iTowers, as per a release from iTowers, was initially designed as a 27 storey high-rise tower. 

However, the release says strong demand for residential apartments encouraged the developers to add three more floors.

“The 30th level will be home to a unique state of the art conference centre and restaurant ,” adds the release. ENDS