Office Space in Nairobi // 8 Different Types that You Can Choose From

Office Space in Nairobi // 8 Different Types that You Can Choose From

Finding an office space is often a huge task for many businesses especially now that workplace trends keep on changing the way people perceive office spaces.

In most cases, office space is often considered a permanent HQ for a business. 

While the Hybrid work model keeps changing the workplace, getting an office space is equally important.

No matter the industry, your team will always need a place where they can come together to share a workspace with all the essentials, such as WiFi, printing facilities, and other amenities. 

These office spaces are usually privately owned by a single company or shared between multiple users.

Different types of office spaces

As we come to the close of the year and as we strategize for the coming new year, If taking up a new office is part of the plan, learning about the different types of offices is equally important.

Do you need a flexible workspace or something more traditional? Or maybe a hybrid of the two? Here’s our guide to the most popular types.

Traditional office space: The traditional office is really any workplace used by a single company, where each employee has a dedicated desk that they use every day. 

If an employee is on annual leave, is off sick, or is away on business, their desk will be empty. 

This model often also dictates that each person has their own desktop PC, with all their local files contained on it, and their own cupboard with things they need for work.

Large corporates usually have this model, as it has traditionally been difficult to share digital resources and personal storage in an accessible way, but cloud storage or keeping data on a local server can offer flexibility, which can open up other workspace options and bring more efficiency.

Traditional offices are moving with the times, especially since Covid-19 struck, and can form a base camp for a business that works on a hybrid model, mixing with coworking, hot desking, and staff working from home.

Hybrid office space: A hybrid office consists of employees who have the flexibility to work both remotely and in-office, allowing for more freedom over when and where work is completed.

The hybrid office means that some workers have to remain in the office to do their jobs, some prefer to work in the office, and others still might be required to go into the office on occasion. 

In cases where you have a bigger team, you can opt for a flexible workspace and take up packages such as Flexi spaces where, you only use the office when you need or even take up meeting room options, to meet up in the office only when it is necessary.

Some organizations have different hybrid office combinations like office sharing where employees are allotted a certain amount of time in an office space but mostly work from home.

Private office space: Privacy is important in business, especially when working on confidential plans, discussing personal information, or viewing and storing sensitive files or paperwork. 

Private offices tend to be smaller, with lockable doors, blinds on windows, soundproof walls, and biometric access.

Of course, some managers just like to have their own office because it’s quiet or more prestigious, and that’s their choice. Either way, a private office is exactly as it sounds.

Shared offices: When it comes to the flexible workspace, there’s nothing that quite matches the shared office. In this arrangement, workers are sharing the space with other people who may or may not work for their own company. 

Often called coworking spaces, they are the ultimate flexible office space, and are popular with creatives, freelancers, digital nomads, startups, and entrepreneurs who pop in and out all day. 

Nowadays, large companies also rent a few desks in shared offices and offer employees access to coworking as part of a flexible employment package.

According to Flexas, today there are over 18,700 coworking spaces making this kind of office space gain more popularity.

Shared offices frequently occupy prestigious parts of city centers and are beautiful, trendy buildings, whether that’s refurbished classic buildings or a brand new office space built for the job. 

There are many fashionable shared offices that feature pods, sofas, breakfast bars,  beanbags, standing desks, and other places to sit (or stand). 

They’ll have their own reception and concierge services, and often come attached to meeting rooms, conference rooms, showers and canteens, and sometimes even bars and games rooms.

With so many types of coworking spaces to choose from, it’s always good to shop around and get a feel for the vibe.

Flexi office space: The Flexi office space in Nairobi is a really flexible place to do work, as you can hire it for just a day and some providers let you hire it by the hour. 

Unlike a coworking space, this has the benefits of a private office or perhaps a small traditional office.

While coworking spaces like Nairobi Garage, offer this package within their coworking spaces and offer this as a package.

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Flexi office space can be useful to rent an office for a day if you’re working out of town, or if you’re only working one day a week. Under these circumstances, it can be a very cost-effective workplace.

Serviced office space: A serviced office is one that is managed by a third party, which takes care of furnishings, connectivity, services, shared spaces such as receptions and corridors, cleaning, maintenance, and all other amenities. 

It’s often thought of as a landlord-and-tenant arrangement, with the company taking out a long-term lease on the real estate. 

In practice, most types of offices in this list are also serviced. The alternative is a company-owned property, where they have to deal with every aspect of its day-to-day running, even if they contract much of it out to third parties.

Creative office space: Creative office space is any office space that falls outside of the traditional layout. These types of office spaces encourage flexibility, creativity, and collaboration.

Although these kinds of office spaces differ in style, color, themes, layout, decor, etc they share some common traits like polished concrete or wooden flooring and high ceilings.

These are just a few features that creative office spaces usually have in common. Some other creative office design features include an open kitchen, exposed ceiling, moveable walls that can be extracted or contracted, soundproof rooms, private offices, and much more.

Contiguous office spaces: Contiguous office spaces are those office spaces that consist of multiple suites on the same floor of a building rented out to a single tenant or a block of space that is spread over adjoining floors of the same building. 

These types of office spaces are usually leased by large businesses that require multiple workplaces for different units of their business but want them to be situated in the same building.

How to choose an ideal Office Space

Whether you choose a traditional or flexible office space will depend on how much flexibility you and your workforce need. 

If you want all your team in the same place so it’s easier to communicate, share resources and break out for meetings, there’s nothing wrong with a traditional office space. 

You can still combine it with hot desk facilities. If you need to be more flexible, or if your typical workforce expects flexibility, then a blend of the office types above can work. 

Many businesses get by perfectly well with a small head office housing two or three people, and a large, global workforce using coworking spaces or working from home.

There’s no right or wrong office space, but some types just make the whole process of running a particular business that much easier.

Take a look at all our office space options and packages here for more information.