SOM’s design for Alárò City is launched in Nigeria

Africa’s largest urban developer, Rendeavour, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, broke ground on a new city development in the Lekki Free Zone. The master plan carried out by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) LLP Europe is designed to boost foreign direct investment in Nigeria and create tens of thousands of jobs.

Alárò City is a mixed-income, city-scale development with modern employment, including industrial and logistics locations, complemented by offices, homes, schools, healthcare facilities, hotels, entertainment, and 150 hectares (370 acres) of parks and open spaces.

Located in the North West Quadrant of the Lekki Free Zone, the master plan lies in the growth path of Lagos, one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities with a population of over 20 million, and is adjacent to the future international airport, the region’s largest deep-sea port, and major Nigerian and international companies.

“Alárò City helps strengthen Lagos’ position as the economic and cultural hub for West Africa by creating a new mixed-use model sustainable community—a place for people to work, make, live, and learn, which aims to become an international trade gateway,” says Daniel Ringelstein, Director at SOM.

By focusing first on natural systems, SOM designed a master plan that protects and enhances the unique conditions of the site while enabling longterm resiliency for the future city.

“The plan is structured around six greenways, aligned north-to-south with the prevailing winds and existing topography, and spaced 800 meters apart to ensure that all residents and workers are no more than a five-minute walk from open space,” highlights Gareth Edwards, Associate at SOM.

SOM also planned transport infrastructure to support local connectivity and to allow for higher density, walkable mixed-use districts and neighborhoods. Larger industrial and logistical development plots are located in the south, adjacent to an inter-district transport corridor, while neighborhoods for residential, mixed-use, and commercial development are located to the north, oriented towards the lagoon. A main boulevard connects the commercial, enterprise, and educational areas on the north with the research with the industrial area on the south.

A vibrant city core will become the civic heart of the Free Zone—a focal point for innovation and collaboration, as well as a destination for leisure and entertainment. The development is complemented with shaded, pedestrian-friendly streets and strong connections to public transit. A clearly defined network of urban plazas will link to a 14-hectare Central Park, designed to support a variety of events and bring people together.

At a ceremony marking the start of the project, which already has multinational companies building facilities on site, Alárò City’s partners outlined their vision for the satellite city.

“We welcome the substantial foreign direct investment Rendeavour is making in Alárò City, which will further enhance the Lekki Free Zone as the gateway of choice to Nigeria and West Africa,” said Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. “Alárò City symbolizes the government’s continuous support for private investors and fast-tracking development.”

Stephen Jennings, founder and CEO of Rendeavour, said: “We are proud and delighted to be bringing our successful inclusive city model to Nigeria and Lagos State, the heart of the country’s vibrant economy. Our partnership with Lagos State will ensure that Alárò City is an economically sustainable city open to all Nigerians.”