Mobil’s Square-shaped Tower, Secure, Functional

Mobil Oil Nigeria Ltd spared no expense to deliver its iconic headquarters building in Victoria Island, Lagos. The beautiful tower is not only functional but also keeps the users secure.

The Mobil headquarters building is a 12-storey, square-shaped tower divided into four sections with a beautiful atrium in the middle. The architect’s introduction of an atrium (a large open-air or skylightcovered space surrounded by a building) in the tower was a deliberate move. Atria were a common feature in Ancient Roman dwellings, providing light and ventilation to the interior.

Modern atria, as developed in the late 19th and 20th centuries, are often several stories high, with a glazed roof or large windows, and often located immediately beyond a building’s main entrance doors (in the lobby).

Atria are a popular design feature because they give their buildings a feeling of space and light. The atrium has become a key feature of many buildings in recent years. Atria are popular with building users, building designers and building developers. Users like atria because they create a dynamic and stimulating interior that provides shelter from the external environment while maintaining a visual link with that environment. Designers enjoy the opportunity to create new spaces in buildings, and developers see atria as prestigious amenities that can increase commercial value and appeal.

There is a rich use of the atrium in Mobil’s tower, and it lights up the centre court, where artefacts from the museum’s collections are displayed, per an agreement with the National Museum of Nigeria.

The four sides are connected by circular towers containing elevators, fire escapes, and restrooms.

There are 10 floors of office space, in addition to underground parking and a top floor where the air handling units are located.