Planning Systems Services

What Planning Systems Services does

PLANNING Systems Services Ltd is a Nairobi-headquartered architectural firm founded on May 1, 1978, providing architecture, land use planning, and urban design services across East Africa. The firm operates through three divisions: PLANNING Systems Services Ltd (core architectural services), PLANNING Project Management Ltd (project and development management), and PLANNING Energy + Environment (environmental design and analysis). With 101–250 employees and offices in Nairobi (headquarters at Rosslyn Riviera Mall, Limuru Road) and Mombasa, the firm serves enterprise clients across ten sectors: hospitality, corporate offices, masterplanning, retail, education, arts and culture, residential, industrial and logistics, wellness and healthcare, and heritage and restorations. Its geographic reach spans Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and Somalia, with select projects in the UAE.

The firm secures engagements through direct enterprise relationships, competitive tenders, and design competitions, serving clients including Kenya Commercial Bank, I&M Bank, Trade and Development Bank, Sarit Centre, Four Points Sheraton JKIA, Serena Beach Hotel & Spa, Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, M-Pesa Foundation Academy, Braeburn Schools, Aga Khan Education Services, Lonrho Africa, and Pepsi Cola. Long-tenured relationships — Serena Beach (since 1992), Braeburn Schools (since 1978), and multi-geography work for I&M Bank — anchor a recurring enterprise pipeline alongside one-off project wins such as the 19-story Trade and Development Bank HQ (2023) and the 2020 Outstanding Property Awards London-winning I&M Kigali.

PLANNING's production stack centers on Building Information Modelling (BIM) using Autodesk Revit and AutoCAD, supplemented by a fully cloud-based collaborative working platform managed by an in-house IT/Head of Digital function. Revenue is generated on a project-specific consulting fee basis across architecture, masterplanning, project management, and construction oversight services, with pricing determined by project scope, complexity, and deliverables rather than published rate cards.

Name

Planning Systems Services

Legal name

PLANNING Systems Services Ltd

Website

https://planning-kenya.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PLANNING Systems Services Ltd is a Nairobi-headquartered architectural firm founded in 1978, delivering architecture, land use planning, urban design, project management, and environmental design services across East Africa, with offices in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD), Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE), Construction Program Management (Multi-site/Portfolio) (IMAFAAAF)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban planning consulting
• Land use planning
• Building information modelling
• Project management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Professional services revenue generated through architecture, land use planning, urban design, project management, and construction oversight services. Projects range from small-scale residential to large-scale masterplanning and high-rise commercial developments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PLANNING Systems Services Ltd is a multi-disciplinary architectural firm offering architecture, land use planning, and urban design services spanning ten sectors. The firm operates through three integrated divisions covering core design, project and development management, and environmental design and analysis. Engagements range from small-scale residential to large-scale masterplanning, high-rise commercial headquarters, hospitality resorts, and heritage restoration across East Africa.

Product overview

Planning Systems Services Ltd operates as an architectural firm with a multi-division structure. The core offering consists of architecture, land use planning, and urban design services through Planning Systems Services Ltd, complemented by project and development management through Planning Project Management Ltd, and environmental design services through PLANNING Energy + Environment. The firm delivers projects across ten sectors: Hospitality, Corporate Offices, Masterplanning, Retail, Education, Arts & Culture, Residential, Industrial & Logistics, Wellness & Healthcare, and Heritage & Restorations. This is a services-based firm, not a software/product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture, Land Use Planning and Urban Design Services Core architectural and planning services covering architecture, land use planning, and urban design delivered across East Africa. Spans ten sectors including hospitality, corporate offices, masterplanning, retail, education, arts & culture, residential, industrial & logistics, wellness & healthcare, and heritage & restoration.
• PLANNING Project Management Ltd Project and development management division offering construction oversight and project delivery across East Africa. Engages from conceptualization through completion across buildings, infrastructure, and land use developments.
• PLANNING Energy + Environment Environmental design and analysis services for existing and upcoming projects, specializing in sustainable design strategies across the group's portfolio.

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• John McAslan + PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShortlisted together in a design competition for Al Jamea Bohra educational campus in Karen, Nairobi. PLANNING worked with John McAslan + Partners as one of four teams participating in the design competition for a 12-acre campus with over 600,000 square feet of religious, teaching, recreational, and residential components.
• Broadway MalyanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLANNING was brought on board by Broadway Malyan to develop the design, detailed design drawings, and supervise construction of English Point Marina - a contemporary residential and hotel development on the Kenyan coast.
• ARUPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLANNING participated in an urban and architectural design competition for Kimironko Hub in Kigali in conjunction with ARUP, developing a strategic and transformational masterplan for modernization and expansion of the existing transport and market hub.
• Mangat I.B. Patel (Structural Engineer)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering collaboration on multiple complex projects including Lonrho House, Kenya Commercial Bank HQ, Costal Botler Mtwapa, and Emakoko Lodge. Partnership instrumental in achieving column-free structures and technically complex building solutions.
• PLANNING Project Management LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup's project and development management arm, actively engaged in project management and construction oversight spanning buildings, major infrastructure projects, and land use developments from conceptualization to completion.
• PLANNING Energy + EnvironmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup division specializing in providing environmental design and analysis services to both existing and upcoming projects, ensuring sustainable design strategies.
• Pinewood Village Beach ResortsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning team managing English Point Marina development, providing hotel management expertise for the contemporary residential and hotel development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• ARUP: Global engineering, design, and urban planning firm documented as a collaborator with PLANNING on the Kimironko Hub masterplan in Kigali. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary design peer with overlapping urban planning and masterplanning capability in East Africa.

Broad incumbents

• Gensler: Largest global architecture and design firm with significant African commercial and workplace presence. Comparable as a broad incumbent in corporate office and workplace design—a core segment for PLANNING (KCB HQ, I&M Bank, TDB HQ).
• Foster + Partners: Globally dominant architecture practice with expanding African footprint across commercial, hospitality, and urban design. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the largest East African flagship mandates where global brand and resources outweigh local relationships.
• KPF (Kohn Pedersen Fox): International architecture firm specializing in supertall towers, commercial headquarters, and mixed-use developments globally, with growing African presence. Comparable as a broad incumbent directly relevant to PLANNING's high-rise commercial tower segment (TDB HQ, KCB HQ, Fedha Towers).
• Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM): Global architecture, engineering, and urban planning firm with active projects across Africa. Comparable as a broad incumbent peer on large-scale commercial towers, masterplans, and mixed-use developments—directly relevant to PLANNING's TDB HQ and Sarit Centre-level work.

Direct peers

• Broadway Malyan: International architecture, masterplanning, and urban design practice with active East African engagements (English Point Marina in partnership with PLANNING). Comparable as a global peer competing for similar mixed-use, hospitality, and coastal development mandates in East Africa.
• John McAslan + Partners: UK-based international architecture practice with active East African projects and documented collaboration with PLANNING (Al Jamea design competition). Comparable as a design competition peer and partner on African institutional and education projects.
• Design Group Architects: Leading Nigerian architectural practice delivering architecture, masterplanning, and interior design across West Africa. Comparable as an African regional architecture firm with similar enterprise/government client base and project typologies (commercial, residential, hospitality).
• dhk Architects: Major South African architectural firm with strong portfolio in commercial, residential, hospitality, and urban design across the African continent. Comparable as a peer African practice competing for similar mixed-use, hospitality, and masterplanning mandates.
• Boogertman + Partners: Largest architectural practice in South Africa delivering architecture, masterplanning, and interior design across Africa and internationally. Directly comparable as a multi-decade African architecture firm with similar service breadth (architecture + urban design + project management) and an enterprise/government client base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PLANNING.Ke
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/planningsystems
• Instagraminstagram.com/planningsske?utm_medium=copy_link
• Xx.com/planningsske

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Planning Systems Services