Outsource an Architect and their Services in Nairobi and Kenya
Every construction project, whether a residential bungalow in Karen or a multi-storey commercial block along Mombasa Road, begins with the same question: who is going to design and oversee the technical direction of the build? For most small and mid-sized developers, contractors, and even individual homeowners in Nairobi, hiring a full-time, in-house architect rarely makes financial sense. This is where outsourcing an architect becomes the smarter route — giving you access to qualified design and construction-documentation expertise exactly when a project needs it, without the overhead of a permanent salaried hire.
At Bestcare Outsourcing EA, we connect developers, contractors, real estate firms, and property owners across Nairobi and the wider country with vetted architectural services on a project, retainer, or on-demand basis. This article breaks down what it means to outsource an architect in Kenya, the services typically covered, what it costs, and how the process works.
Why Outsource an Architect in Kenya?
Construction demand in Nairobi has grown steadily across residential estates such as Kileleshwa, Lavington, Runda, and South B, as well as commercial hubs like Westlands, Upper Hill, and the CBD. Yet most developers only need architectural input in bursts — during concept design, drawing approval stages, or site supervision — rather than continuously throughout the year. Outsourcing architectural services solves this mismatch. You pay for expertise only when you need it, while retaining the flexibility to scale the engagement up during a busy build phase and down once drawings are approved.
Outsourcing also opens the door to a wider talent pool. Rather than being limited to whichever architect you can afford to keep on payroll, an outsourcing partner can match your project to an architect whose portfolio actually fits — be it low-rise residential, mixed-use commercial, industrial warehousing, or renovation and adaptive reuse work.
Core Architectural Services Available for Outsourcing
When you outsource an architect through Bestcare Outsourcing EA, the scope typically includes:
- Concept and schematic design — initial sketches, space planning, and massing studies that translate a client’s brief into a workable layout
- Design development and working drawings — detailed floor plans, elevations, sections, and construction-ready documentation
- Structural coordination — liaising with structural and services engineers so the architectural drawings integrate cleanly with structural, electrical, and plumbing designs
- Approvals and regulatory liaison — preparing and submitting drawings to county planning departments and the National Construction Authority (NCA), and where applicable, coordinating environmental compliance with NEMA
- Bill of quantities support — working alongside quantity surveyors to align design intent with realistic material and cost estimates
- Site supervision and construction administration — periodic site visits to confirm the build matches approved drawings
- Renovation and change-of-use design — reworking existing structures, including adding floors, converting residential units to commercial use, or upgrading older buildings to current building code standards
Every architect placed through our outsourcing service is registered with the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS), which is the statutory body governing architectural practice in Kenya. This matters directly to you as a client — only drawings stamped by a BORAQS-registered architect are accepted by Nairobi City County and other county planning offices during the approval process.
Indicative Costs of Outsourcing an Architect in Nairobi and Kenya
Architectural fees in Kenya are generally charged either as a percentage of construction cost (commonly 3–8% depending on project scale and complexity) or as a flat fee for smaller, well-defined scopes. Below is an indicative guide for budgeting purposes; exact quotes depend on plot size, project complexity, and the level of service required.
| Service | Typical Cost Range (KES) |
|---|---|
| Concept design (residential, up to 4 bedrooms) | 40,000 – 120,000 |
| Full working drawings for approval (residential) | 150,000 – 400,000 |
| Commercial building design (per project) | 500,000 – 2,500,000+ |
| Renovation / change-of-use design | 60,000 – 250,000 |
| Site supervision (per visit) | 8,000 – 15,000 |
| Retainer architect (monthly, part-time) | 60,000 – 180,000 |
These figures apply broadly across Nairobi — including Westlands, Kilimani, Langata, and Embakasi — as well as satellite towns such as Kiambu, Ruiru, Ngong, and Athi River, though rural or upcountry projects with simpler designs can fall toward the lower end of each range.
How Outsourcing Works With Bestcare Outsourcing EA
- Brief submission — you share your project scope: plot size, location, intended use, and any drawings or ideas you already have.
- Architect matching — we shortlist BORAQS-registered architects whose experience fits your project type and budget.
- Scope and fee agreement — a clear engagement letter defines deliverables, timelines, and payment milestones, whether the arrangement is a one-off project or an ongoing retainer.
- Design and approvals — the architect produces drawings, coordinates with engineers, and manages the county approval process on your behalf.
- Ongoing support — for active construction, the same architect (or a supervising counterpart) conducts periodic site visits to confirm the build tracks the approved design.
This structure removes the administrative burden of recruiting, vetting, and managing architectural staff directly, while still giving you a dedicated point of contact for the life of the project.
Who Should Consider Outsourcing an Architect
Outsourcing architectural services suits a wide range of clients in the Kenyan market:
- Individual homeowners building or renovating a single property who don’t need a permanent architect
- Small and mid-sized contractors who take on design-and-build projects intermittently
- Real estate developers running multiple concurrent projects who need to flex architectural capacity up or down
- Property managers handling change-of-use conversions or facility upgrades across a portfolio
- Corporates planning a one-off office fit-out or branch expansion without an internal design department
Get Started
If you have a project in Nairobi or anywhere in Kenya that needs professional architectural input — from a first concept sketch through to final site supervision — Bestcare Outsourcing EA can match you with a vetted, BORAQS-registered architect suited to your scope and budget.
Bestcare Outsourcing EA Mpaka Plaza, Westlands, Nairobi Phone / WhatsApp: 0709 004 600 Email: info@localhost Web: outsource.co.ke