Trade Development Bank
OUR STORY
Four decades of
design,
shaping a
skyline.
From a small balcony above a Nairobi garage in 1978 to a multi-disciplinary practice defining the East African horizon.
01 — ORIGINS
The unlikeliest
of places.
Our story began 45 years ago in the unlikeliest of places.
PLANNING Systems Services Ltd is a prominent architectural firm founded in 1978 in Nairobi, Kenya. Our expertise lies in architecture, land use planning, and urban design. We believe in the transformative power of design to craft captivating human experiences within sustainable and vibrant buildings and spaces..
Our approach is rooted in our clients’ values and facility requirements — harnessing the unique opportunities of each project site while remaining mindful of practical considerations that drive project economies. This philosophy fosters ongoing dialogue and collaboration from initial concept to project realisation.
02 — MILESTONE MOMENTS
Underdogs who
redefined a skyline.
Over four decades, we have shaped Nairobi’s skyline with iconic high-rise projects including the Kenya Commercial Bank Pension Tower, Lonrho House, and Investments and Mortgages Bank. Our hospitality portfolio includes internationally acclaimed projects such as the Four Points Sheraton JKIA, Mombasa Serena Beach Hotel and Spa, and Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club.
In the residential realm, we are known for award-winning developments like Lakeview Estate, Imara Daima Housing Estate, and Komarock Phase I. We have a well-established track record of delivering quality projects, regardless of size, within budget and on schedule.
TIMELINE
1972
Serena Paraa & Chloe Lodges (Uganda)
In the residential realm, we are known for award-winning developments like Lakeview Estate, Imara Daima Housing Estate, and Komarock Phase I. We have a well-established track record of delivering quality projects, regardless of size, within budget and on schedule.
1978
Founded in Nairobi
Jim Archer and Trevor Andrews open a small office on a balcony above a used-car garage in Nairobi’s Industrial Area on 1st May.
1980
Lake View estate
Win the architectural competition for the acclaimed residential development nestled in the trees of Spring Valley, Lower Kabete.
1988
PLANNING House
Relocate to PLANNING House on Lower Kabete Road — home to the studio for the next 35 years.
1990s
Fedha Towers& Lonrho House
First high-rise commission for the East African Building Society sets the template for landmarks that redefine the Nairobi skyline
1993
Planning Interiors Limited
Launch a dedicated interiors practice to meet rising demand for specialised design.
2000s
Nation Centre & i&M Bank Tower
Take over Nation Centre from the late Henning Larsen and deliver landmark commercial towers alongside the Mombasa Serena Beach Hotel.
2012
World Design Impact Prize
The Community Cooker initiative is awarded the inaugural prize for waste-to-energy innovation.
2020s
Trade Development Bank HQ
Three-sky-garden TDB headquarters on Lenana Road, Four Points by Sheraton JKIA and the Pangani Housing project mark a new era of resilient, mixed-income design.
2024
Zanzibar Coastal Resorts (Tanzania)
Complete landmark sustainable luxury hospitality projects on the Zanzibar coastline, including Bweju and Mangapwani developments.
Today
Third Generation
Led by Managing Director Henry Musangi across Nairobi and Mombasa, focused on resilience, climate-conscious design and urban transformation.
03 — OUR STORY TODAY
A third
generation.
Now in our third generation of leadership, under Managing Director Henry Musangi, we continue to expand our impact through our offices in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Our focus has evolved to meet the challenges of a changing world, with an emphatic focus on resilience, climate change, and urban transformation.
04 — PHILOSOPHY
Design that serves
every community.
From large-scale master planning and the regeneration of the Nairobi Rivers to delivering dignified, low-income housing through projects like Pangani, we believe design can create sustainable, vibrant spaces for all socio-economic groups.
We remain dedicated to a philosophy that balances client requirements with a high regard for nature — ensuring every project provides the best possible value to the community.
- 2026 PLANNING Systems Ltd. All Rights Reserved.