Plan your workplace before the programme starts controlling you.

A successful office project has to satisfy more than the visual brief. It must support the organisation's headcount, work patterns, client experience, technology, acoustics, security, building services, future growth and occupation date.

Curzey connects workplace strategy and interior design with the practical delivery questions that can otherwise appear too late: landlord approvals, existing HVAC and power capacity, fire requirements, furniture lead times, ICT, access control, procurement and move sequencing.

Early cost-per-square-metre ranges are useful for feasibility, but they are not quotations. For many office projects, an entry-level fit-out may fall around KES 45,000–65,000 per square metre, a mid-range fit-out around KES 65,000–85,000 per square metre, while premium or technically demanding projects can exceed KES 90,000 per square metre.

The real budget depends on the base building, services, furniture, technology, finish quality, demolition, joinery, programme, taxes, professional fees and what the landlord is providing. A project-specific scope and estimate should replace the benchmark as early as possible.

The total programme includes more than construction. A realistic plan covers briefing, survey and test fit, concept and detailed design, approvals, procurement, construction, testing, snagging, relocation and occupation readiness.

Smaller straightforward fit-outs can move quickly, while larger or more technical projects require more design and procurement time. The critical path is often shaped by decisions, landlord approvals, imported or bespoke items and specialist building services rather than by the visible finishes.

For Nairobi offices, early due diligence should confirm usable floor area, landlord design criteria, access and working-hour restrictions, fire and life-safety requirements, HVAC capacity, power and backup power, data routes, wet services, ceiling zones and reinstatement obligations.

A test fit can expose whether the floorplate genuinely supports the required headcount, meeting-room mix and staff facilities before the project becomes committed to an unsuitable space.