Lensa Mekonnen, head of the Land Bank & Development Corporation, strives to overhaul unutilised land under federal agencies in Addis Abeba through a programme dubbed "Revamping Sheger."

Officials of the Corporation, which was established in 2018 with five billion Birr in capital, estimate 755hct of underdeveloped and undeveloped land are available for the implementation of the project. Many of the 300 federal agencies and state-owned enterprises are based in the capital.

The Corporation has thus far audited 3,700hct of land under federal agencies, including the Civil Aviation Authority and Ghion Hotels Enterprise.

Under the leadership of Lensa, the Corporation called for an expression of interest from architects for the proposed programme nine months ago. Nearly a dozen responded, and two firms have reached the final stage to submit a conceptual design for developments in 140 sites, divided into five hubs.

Lensa served as the chief executive officer of the Ethiopian Tourism Organisation before her appointment to head the Corporation in 2018.

The concept designs developed by the two companies were on display at Addis Hall last month. Officials say the exhibit was meant to collect feedback from the capital's residents, which will be used as input during the evaluation stage. A jury comprising experts from the Corporation, university lecturers, and independent professionals will make the final decision.

“The winning concept design will be selected within a month,” said Lensa.

Incorporated in 2007 with an initial capital of 20,000 Br, Benyam Ali Architects is one of the firms that submitted a concept design for plots categorised under four hubs.

Its design for the area around Addis Abeba Stadium, designated by the Corporation as one of the five hubs that stretch from Ghion Hotel to Mexico Square, includes an outdoor running track. The design for the second hub stretching from Sidist Kilo to Entoto Polytechnic College proposes the construction of an innovation district.

“The concept designs were prepared based on the potentials of the areas,” said Benyam Ali, general manager of the company.

Fekreselam Gebrewhad, lecturer of urban design and development at Kotebe Metropolitian University, applauds the efforts to consider the characteristics of the areas under question in the design, but cautions the work should align with the city's master plan.

Incorporated three years ago, The Dream Factory Plc is the other firm in the running. It has submitted concept designs for plots categorised under three hubs.