Office fit-out
Office partitions in Nairobi: glass, aluminium & gypsum
Good office partitions in Nairobi turn one open shell into a working floor: meeting rooms that keep conversations private, manager offices that still borrow daylight, and quiet zones where people can concentrate. We supply and install glass, aluminium and gypsum partitioning across Kenya, measured to your space, priced per square metre and phased so your team keeps working while we build.
Office partitions are internal walls and screens that divide an open floor into rooms and zones without building permanent masonry. They form meeting rooms, offices and quiet booths, and they break open plans into workstations. Because they are lighter than block walls and often demountable, they go up faster, move more easily and cost less than fixed construction. Partitioning is one part of a full office interior design and fit-out, and it is the line that moves the budget the most. It is one of the services Hauzisha Interiors delivers across the city.
Types of office partition we install
Different rooms want different partitions. These are the systems we fit most in Nairobi offices, and where each one earns its place:
- Frameless glass: toughened glass panels with slim fittings and minimal hardware. The cleanest, most premium look, used for boardrooms and reception meeting rooms.
- Aluminium-framed glass: glass set in powder-coated aluminium frames. The workhorse of office glazing, strong, cost-effective and easy to fit doors into.
- Gypsum (drywall): a metal stud frame clad in plasterboard, plastered and painted like a solid wall. The budget and privacy choice for server rooms, stores and HR offices.
- Acoustic and soundproof: double-glazed glass or insulated gypsum with seals, for boardrooms and rooms where conversations must not carry.
- Demountable and movable: aluminium-and-glass systems that unbolt and relocate when your layout or lease changes, so you keep the value.
- Sliding and folding: glass or timber systems that open two rooms into one for training sessions and all-hands, then close again.
- Desk-high dividers and cubicles: screens that break an open floor into defined workstations and cut noise without closing the room in.
Glass, gypsum or aluminium: which is best
There is no single best material. The right choice per room comes down to light, privacy, acoustics and budget. This is how the three main options compare:
| Material | Best for | Light | Privacy | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass (framed / frameless) | Meeting rooms, manager offices, reception | High | Low to medium | Higher |
| Gypsum / drywall | Server rooms, stores, HR, private offices | None | High | Lowest |
| Double-glazed acoustic glass | Boardrooms, director suites | High | High | Highest |
A typical Nairobi office we partition is a mix: glass boardroom and meeting rooms along the window line so daylight reaches the desks, gypsum offices and stores against the core where privacy matters, and desk-high dividers across the open floor. We set the ratio against your budget and how noisy the work is.
Glass options and specifications
Most office glazing uses 10mm or 12mm toughened (tempered) glass, which is strong and breaks into safe blunt pieces rather than shards. For better sound control we use laminated or double-glazed units. The glass can be left clear, or frosted and printed with a manifestation band or your logo for privacy and to meet safety marking. Frames are powder-coated aluminium in your choice of finish, or frameless with slim floor and ceiling channels for the cleanest look.
- Glass thickness: 10 to 12mm toughened for single glazing; laminated where safety or acoustics matter.
- Acoustics: single glazing suits everyday meeting rooms; double glazing with seals is for boardrooms and private offices.
- Finish: clear, frosted, tinted, or printed manifestation and branding.
- Doors: framed or frameless glass doors with locks, closers and optional access control.
- Lifespan: a well-installed aluminium-and-glass system lasts the life of the fit-out and can be relocated if demountable.
What office partitioning costs in Nairobi
Partitions are quoted per square metre of partition, so the cost tracks how much wall you put up and what you clad it in. The biggest swings are glass versus gypsum, and whether the glass is single glazed, frameless or double glazed. These are the 2026 figures we work to:
| Partition type | Indicative cost (KES) |
|---|---|
| Aluminium-framed single-glazed glass | 4,000 – 8,000 / m² |
| Frameless / toughened premium glass | 8,000 – 14,000 / m² |
| Double-glazed acoustic glass | 10,000 – 16,000 / m² |
| Gypsum (drywall) partition, installed | 2,000 – 3,500 / m² |
| Desk-high cubicle screens | from ~15,000 / workstation |
| Glazed partition door with ironmongery | 25,000 – 60,000 / door |
As a worked example, walling off three glass meeting rooms of about 12 m² of partition each, with two glazed doors, comes to roughly KES 350,000 to 700,000 depending on the glazing grade. Keep the existing ceiling and floor and lean on gypsum where privacy beats light, and the number drops. See the interior design cost guide for the full fit-out picture, including ceilings, flooring and the costs many quotes leave out.
How long office partitioning takes
Timelines depend on the glazing order more than the install. A first layout lands in about a week. On site:
- A few glass meeting rooms: usually one to two weeks once materials are in.
- A full floor of mixed partitions: three to six weeks with doors and finishes.
- Glazing lead time: glass is cut to your measured sizes, so we order early and prep while it is made.
How we install partitions with minimal downtime
One team measures, supplies and installs, so the glass, frames and doors all line up on site. The shape of the job is the same whether it is three meeting rooms or a whole floor:
- Measure & quote: we survey the floor, agree the layout and quote per square metre in shillings.
- Order & cut: glass and aluminium are cut to your measured sizes while we prep the floor.
- Install, phased: partitions, doors and finishes go up in sections, noisy work after hours where we can.
- Handover: glass cleaned, doors adjusted, the floor handed back ready to use.
Looking after glass and gypsum partitions
Glass partitions need little more than regular cleaning with a non-abrasive cleaner, and the door closers and locks checked once or twice a year. Gypsum partitions take knocks in busy corridors, so we finish them to be easy to patch and repaint. Because aluminium systems are demountable, a panel can be swapped or a door rehung without tearing down the wall, which keeps a fit-out looking sharp for years.
Planning your office partitions
Before any glass is ordered, the layout does the heavy lifting. We zone the floor into open collaboration areas, glass-partitioned meeting rooms, a private boardroom and a few focus booths, then size each against your headcount and how often clients visit. Getting the open-to-private ratio right is what makes a floor both social and focused. See our process for the full step-by-step, and commercial interior design for fit-outs beyond the office.
Office partitioning FAQ
How much does it cost to partition an office in Kenya?
Partitions are priced per square metre of partition. Aluminium-framed single-glazed glass runs about KES 4,000 to 8,000 per m². Frameless or toughened premium glass is roughly KES 8,000 to 14,000 per m², and double-glazed acoustic glass KES 10,000 to 16,000 per m². Gypsum (drywall) partitions are the budget option at about KES 2,000 to 3,500 per m² installed. Glazed doors with ironmongery add KES 25,000 to 60,000 each. As a rough guide, walling off three glass meeting rooms in a mid-size office lands around KES 350,000 to 700,000 depending on glazing and doors. We measure the runs, quote per m² and itemise glass, frames, doors and hardware before work starts.
What are the different types of office partitions?
The main types are frameless glass, aluminium-framed glass, gypsum (drywall), acoustic or soundproof partitions, demountable or movable systems, sliding and folding partitions, and desk-high dividers or cubicles. Glass types keep light and give a corporate look; gypsum gives solid privacy for less; demountable systems can be unbolted and moved. Most offices use a mix across the floor.
Which material is best for an office partition?
There is no single best material, it depends on the room. Glass is best where you want daylight and an open, corporate feel, so meeting rooms and manager offices. Gypsum is best where privacy and budget matter more than light, like server rooms, stores and HR offices. Aluminium framing carries the glass and doors and gives a demountable system you can relocate. For a boardroom that must stay private, double-glazed acoustic glass is the right call.
What are partitions in an office?
Office partitions are internal walls or screens that divide one open floor into usable rooms and zones without building permanent masonry. They range from full-height glass and gypsum walls that form meeting rooms and offices, to desk-high screens that break an open plan into workstations. Because they are lighter than block walls and often demountable, they are faster to install, easier to move and cheaper than fixed construction.
Are glass office partitions soundproof?
Single-glazed glass partitions give reasonable separation for normal meeting-room talk, roughly the level you need for day-to-day rooms. For boardrooms, HR offices or director suites where conversations must stay private, we specify double-glazed glass with acoustic seals, which cuts far more noise. We match the acoustic spec to the room so you are not paying for double glazing where you do not need it.
How long does office partitioning take in Nairobi?
Once glass and aluminium are measured and ordered, a handful of glass meeting rooms on one floor is usually one to two weeks on site. A full floor of mixed glass and gypsum partitions with doors and finishes runs three to six weeks. The glazing lead time drives the programme as much as the install, because glass is cut to your measured sizes, so we order early and prep the floor while it is being made.
Do you supply demountable or relocatable partitions?
Yes. Demountable aluminium-and-glass systems can be unbolted and moved when your layout changes or your lease ends, which suits tenants who may relocate. They cost more up front than fixed gypsum but you keep the value. We advise on fixed versus demountable against how long you expect to stay in the space.
How do you make a partition in an existing office without disrupting work?
We phase the work in sections and run the noisy cutting and drilling in the evenings or over weekends where we can. The live work zone is sealed off with dust screens, and finished areas are handed back as we go, so your team keeps operating while the fit-out moves across the floor.
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