Grade A Offices in Nairobi: A Full List of Buildings to Know

Finding a good office in Nairobi can be surprisingly difficult.

There are hundreds of commercial buildings across the city, but they are not all the same. Some are older buildings with basic facilities, while others have been designed around the needs of modern corporate tenants.

This is where the term Grade A office becomes useful.

Related: What Is a Grade A Office in Nairobi?

They are usually found in prime locations and offer quality finishes, reliable building services, security, parking and professional property management.

There is no single official checklist that applies to every Grade A building, so classifications can vary between property professionals.

The list below therefore focuses on buildings that are commonly positioned or marketed within Nairobi's premium and Grade A office segment.

Grade A offices in Nairobi

GTC Tower, Westlands

GTC Tower is one of the most prominent Grade A office buildings in Nairobi, currently the second tallest building in Kenya.

Located along Chiromo Road in Westlands, the tower is part of the Global Trade Centre development, which includes a tower housing the JW Marriott Hotel, as well as another tower featuring apartments for sale.

It has approximately 620,876 square feet of gross lettable area and large, flexible floor plates.

Within the development, there is a 24/7 Carrefour supermarket, cafes, fast food, beauty, and all manner of convenience stores.

Britam Tower, Upper Hill

Britam Tower is one of the buildings shaping Upper Hill's modern skyline. It is the tallest building in Kenya.

The 31-storey tower has a unique design, similar to the One World Trade Center in New York. See image below.

For companies that want a recognised corporate address close to Nairobi CBD, Upper Hill remains an important option.

UAP Old Mutual Tower, Upper Hill

UAP Old Mutual Tower is another major commercial building in Upper Hill.

Completed before Britam Tower took over the title of Nairobi's tallest building, the tower has more than 300,000 square feet of Grade A office space. Its now the 3rd tallest building in Kenya.

Its location places tenants close to other major corporate offices, financial institutions and professional services firms in Upper Hill.

Prism Tower, Upper Hill

Prism Tower is easy to recognise thanks to its distinctive geometric design.

Beyond its appearance, the building was designed around modern corporate requirements. It offers premium office space alongside facilities including high-speed lifts, backup power, air conditioning, parking, security systems and conference facilities.

It is a good example of how Grade A offices are about more than just the appearance of the building.

One Africa Place, Westlands

One Africa Place is located along Waiyaki Way in Westlands and provides modern office accommodation for businesses looking for a prominent commercial address.

The building has a unique design, resembling a modern Maasai manyatta (hut).

The development has been part of Nairobi's Grade A office supply and was among the notable Grade A office completions recorded in the city.

The Promenade, Westlands

Located along General Mathenge Drive, The Promenade provides modern office accommodation in one of Nairobi's most established commercial areas.

The development is particularly well placed for businesses that want a Westlands address while remaining close to the wider network of residential and commercial neighbourhoods around the area.

BOA House, Westlands

BOA House is located off Waiyaki Way and is another office building positioned within the Grade A segment.

Knight Frank describes it as a Grade A office block and currently lists office space within the building.

Its location along the Waiyaki Way corridor gives businesses relatively convenient access to Westlands and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Riverside Square, Riverside

Riverside Square is a mixed-use development combining office and retail space.

Its location in Riverside puts it close to Westlands, Lavington and other established residential and commercial areas.

For businesses that want a quieter setting while remaining close to the main commercial centres, Riverside has become an increasingly attractive office location.

The Piano, Westlands

The Piano is a relatively modern office and retail development along Brookside Drive.

Knight Frank describes the building as a 16-storey development with approximately 136,137 square feet of gross lettable area.

Its location is particularly convenient for businesses serving clients and employees living around Westlands, Parklands, Riverside and the surrounding areas.

Capital Hill Square, Upper Hill

Capital Hill Square offers office and retail accommodation along Chyulu Road in Upper Hill.

Knight Frank describes the development as providing high-quality accommodation designed to international standards.

Its smaller scale compared with some of Upper Hill's major towers may appeal to businesses looking for a premium office environment without occupying space in a very large skyscraper.

Zamani Business Park, Karen

Grade A offices are not limited to Westlands and Upper Hill.

Zamani Business Park in Karen offers Grade A office space in a much greener and lower-density setting. Knight Frank currently markets the development as Grade A office space.

This can be particularly attractive to companies that want a quieter working environment or have employees and clients based around Karen and the southern suburbs.

The Hub Karen Offices

The Hub Karen is primarily known as a major mixed-use development, but it also offers Grade A office accommodation.

The advantage here is convenience. Businesses can operate within a development that also provides retail, dining and other services, giving employees and visitors access to amenities without having to travel far.

Knight Frank currently lists The Hub as Grade A office space in Karen.

YPL Place, Kilimani

Kilimani has also become an increasingly important commercial office location.

YPL Place is one example of newer office accommodation in the area, with Grade A office space being marketed in the development. Current listings describe offices starting from approximately 1,937 square feet, with basement and rooftop parking.

For businesses looking for an alternative to Westlands or Upper Hill, Kilimani offers a central location with easy access to several residential neighbourhoods.

Where are most Grade A offices in Nairobi?

If you look at the list above, one thing becomes obvious.

Westlands and Upper Hill have a particularly strong concentration of Grade A office buildings.

Westlands has historically been one of Nairobi's strongest office locations and has the largest share of Grade A commercial office space among several competing office nodes, according to Knight Frank research reported by Business Daily.

Upper Hill is another major corporate destination, particularly for banks, insurance companies, professional firms and other large organisations.

Riverside, Kilimani and Karen have also developed their own premium office markets, offering businesses alternatives to the traditional corporate districts.

Which Grade A office is right for you?

There is no single best Grade A office in Nairobi.

A company looking for a prestigious address may prefer GTC Tower or Britam Tower.

A business that wants access to restaurants, retail and entertainment may prefer a mixed-use development such as GTC or The Hub Karen.

A company looking for a quieter environment may find Riverside or Karen more suitable.

And for businesses whose employees live around Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Lavington and Hurlingham, a Kilimani office may make more practical sense than moving further west.

The important thing is to look beyond the words "Grade A".

Consider the location, rent, service charge, parking, accessibility, building management, security, power backup and the actual needs of your employees and clients.