Shipped from China and destined for Yaoundé’s Bastos District, Cameroon, Central Africa’s first modular office project signals a shift in how the region builds. With more than 90 percent of construction completed in a factory setting, the development combines speed, quality control, and cultural sensitivity while cutting on-site disruption in half. As the modules make their intercontinental journey, the project offers a glimpse of how modular construction could reshape urban growth across the continent.
A new chapter in Central African construction is unfolding as the region’s first modular office project begins its journey to Cameroon. On January 5, China International Marine Containers (CIMC) shipped the initial phase of a modular office development bound for Yaoundé’s Bastos District, signaling the arrival of off-site construction methods in a market long shaped by conventional building practices.
Produced by CIMC Modular Building Systems (MBS), the project represents a shift not only in how buildings are assembled, but in how speed, sustainability, and quality are balanced at scale. The prefabricated modules—over 90 percent complete before leaving the factory—departed from CIMC’s primary manufacturing hub in Xinhui, Jiangmen, beginning a carefully orchestrated logistics operation spanning multiple continents.
The modules’ route traces a global arc: from the South China Sea through the Strait of Malacca, across the Indian Ocean, down the eastern coast of Africa, around the Cape of Good Hope, and northward to Central African ports. From there, the units will be transported by road to Yaoundé. The full journey is expected to take approximately 60 days, underscoring the scale and complexity behind what is ultimately a streamlined construction process on site.
Speaking at the dispatch ceremony, Irwin Wang, Assistant General Manager of CIMC MBS and Deputy General Manager of both the CIMC Architectural Design Institute and CIMC Construction, described the project as a convergence of the company’s internal capabilities. From research and development to manufacturing, logistics, and on-site assembly, the initiative demonstrates a tightly integrated workflow designed to set new standards in international modular construction.
Precision Built in the Factory
What distinguishes the Yaoundé office project is the degree to which it is completed before arriving in Cameroon. Structural steel fabrication forms the backbone of each module, with robust frames engineered to meet international building codes and support multi-storey permanent structures—far removed from the temporary associations often linked to modular buildings.
While site preparation progresses in Yaoundé, parallel fit-out work takes place in China. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are fully installed within the factory, alongside finished flooring, tiling, and interior painting. By the time the modules leave port, interiors are effectively complete, allowing on-site work to focus on assembly rather than prolonged finishing.
Cultural responsiveness is also embedded into the design. Guided by the principle of “international quality with local care,” CIMC incorporated features such as prayer rooms and nursing spaces directly into the factory-built modules, ensuring the final building reflects Cameroonian social and cultural needs.
Each unit is equipped with integrated smart building systems, including climate control and security monitoring, all tested prior to shipment. Even the exterior envelope is largely completed off-site, with curtain wall façades attached during manufacturing to give the building a refined, contemporary presence—one that avoids the industrial aesthetic often associated with container-based construction.
A New Benchmark for Yaoundé’s Business District
Located in the established Bastos District, the development spans roughly 3,000 square meters and complies with regional regulations for permanent buildings. In total, 78 modular units will form the structure, each produced to consistent global standards.
Scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026, the project is expected to reduce construction time by more than 50 percent compared to traditional methods. Once operational, the building will accommodate close to 200 people and include modern office spaces, conference rooms, and catering facilities.
The timing aligns with broader economic shifts in Central Africa. As finance, technology, and commercial sectors continue to concentrate in Cameroon, demand for high-quality office space has surged—often outpacing what conventional construction can deliver efficiently or sustainably. Modular construction offers a compelling alternative, combining speed with reduced environmental disruption.
By completing the vast majority of work in a controlled factory environment, CIMC significantly reduces on-site waste, noise, and airborne pollution. For dense urban districts like Bastos, these benefits are as important as speed.
Looking Beyond a Single Project
According to Victor Zhu, Head of CIMC Modular Building Systems, the Yaoundé office marks more than a one-off development. It builds on CIMC’s earlier modular hotel projects in Djibouti and reflects the company’s transition from experimentation to leadership across emerging markets.
As Africa’s urban population continues to grow by more than ten million people each year, the need for efficient, scalable, and environmentally responsible construction models becomes increasingly urgent. With its modules now en route around the Cape of Good Hope, CIMC is positioning modular architecture as a viable foundation for future urban growth across the Global South.