What is the difference between design-build and design-bid-build?

In design-bid-build, the owner contracts separately with a designer and a general contractor, creating handoff gaps. In design-build, one team manages both under a single contract, reducing risk and compressing schedules by 20–33%.

Can TCG manage design-build projects outside major metro areas?

Yes — TCG's national subcontractor network allows design-build delivery in secondary markets and rural areas with the same quality standards as major metro projects. TCG is licensed across 38 states with offices in Denver, Houston, Albany, and Sheridan.

Design-Build Construction

One Team. One Contract. Faster, Smarter, Better.

At Terrapin Construction Group (TCG), our design-build services combine architecture, MEP engineering, structural engineering, and construction under a single point of responsibility — delivering faster schedules, tighter budgets, and higher-quality outcomes across 38 states.

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100+

Projects Delivered

States Served

20–33%

Faster Than DBB

Lower Cost Growth

Why Choose Design-Build with TCG?

Traditional project delivery separates design from construction — creating hand-offs, scope gaps, and cost overruns. From our experience, early GC engagement is critical to project success. Design-build eliminates those challenges by integrating architecture, engineering, and construction into a single, accountable team. According to the DBIA, design-build projects deliver 33% faster with 6% lower cost growth than traditional design-bid-build.

Single Point of AccountabilityOne team manages design, engineering, procurement, and construction. No finger-pointing between separate firms.

Faster SchedulesDesign + construction phases overlap, recovering weeks or months. Our preconstruction planning locks in schedules from day one.

Cost CertaintyReal-time budgeting and value engineering eliminate downstream surprises — supported by AI-driven estimating through TCG.ai.

In-House Architecture & EngineeringLicensed architects, MEP engineers, and structural engineers working together from day one.

Self-Performing CapabilitiesTCG self-performs IMP installation, PEMB erection, and equipment installation — direct control over critical scopes.

Nationwide ReachProjects delivered coast to coast across 38 states with offices in Denver, Houston, Albany, and Sheridan.

Our Process

TCG's Design-Build Process

TCG's design-build delivery integrates every phase into a seamless workflow — from initial concept through final turnover. No handoffs, no scope gaps, no surprises.

Discovery & ProgrammingWe align with your vision, scope, performance goals, and budget constraints. This is where we define what success looks like.

Integrated Design DevelopmentArchitects and engineers work in parallel with construction teams to drive constructability and value from the earliest sketches.

Early Cost Modeling & PreconstructionBudgets refined in real time as design evolves through preconstruction cost opinions at every milestone — SD, DD, and CD.

Fast-Track Permitting & ProcurementOverlapping design and construction phases to save time, with long-lead equipment procurement initiated early to protect the schedule.

Construction & DeliveryOne team executing from groundbreaking to turnover under construction management leadership. Self-performed IMP and PEMB scopes accelerate building envelope completion.

Design-Build Project Portfolio

Click a sector to explore TCG's design-build track record across the country.

Hotel ZaZa – Austin, TX

Hotel Design-Build24,000 SF

InterContinental Hotel – San Francisco, CA

Hotel Project Engineering564,614 SF

PF Chang's – Denver, CO

Restaurant Design-Build5,500 SF

Del Frisco's Grille – Woodlands, TX

Restaurant Design-Build3,500 SF

Perry's Steakhouse – Woodlands, TX

Construction Management7,000 SF

3 Forks Steakhouse – 2 Locations, TX

Construction Management15,000 SF

El Pollo Campero – 3 Locations, TX

Construction Management10,000 SF

Davita Dialysis – 25 Locations in TX

Medical Design-Build75,000 SF

Bellaire Dental – Houston, TX

Dental Design-Build4,000 SF

Vision Source – Sugarland, TX

Construction Management12,000 SF

Advantage Eye Care – Owensboro, KY

Optometry Design-Build—

150,000 SF Manufacturing Expansion – West Coast

Construction Management150,000 SF

120,000 SF Food Production – Midwest

Design-Build120,000 SF

87,000 SF Industrial Cold Storage – Southeast

Design-Build87,000 SF

NREL Research Facility – Golden, CO

Construction Management55,000 SF

PEPSICO – Blueridge, VA

Light Industrial Design-Build50,000 SF

PEPSICO – Tolleson, AZ

Light Industrial Design-Build34,000 SF

Auto Nation – Dallas, TX

Automotive Design-Build35,000 SF

Vireo Health – Elk River, MN

CEA Design-Build116,000 SF

Southern Sky – Canton, MS

Construction Management60,000 SF

AYR Wellness – Cleveland, OH

Construction Administration60,000 SF

Grow Healthy – Lake Wales, FL

Equipment Procurement55,000 SF

Justice Grown – Ewing, NJ

Construction Administration40,000 SF

FLUENT – Tampa, FL

Preconstruction34,000 SF

Agronomia Canna – Mexico City, MX

Agricultural Consulting500,000 SF

Colocation Shell & Core – Southeast

Design-Build45,000 SF

Disaster Recovery Site – Midwest

Construction Management12,000 SF

Enterprise Data Center – Denver Metro

Design-Build8,000 SF

Edge Data Center – Multiple Markets

Preconstruction2,000–5,000 SF/site

65,000 SF Pharma Cleanroom – Northeast

Owner's Rep65,000 SF

NREL Research Facility – Golden, CO

Construction Management55,000 SF

Biotech Startup Lab – Denver, CO

Design-Build12,000 SF

CSU Industrial Sciences Lab – Ft Collins, CO

Higher Education Engineering7,000 SF

95,000 SF Grocery-Anchored Center – Southeast

Design-Build95,000 SF

3-Story Climate-Controlled Storage – Denver Metro

Design-Build85,000 NRSF

Boat & RV Storage – Texas

PEMB & IMP Design-Build120,000 SF

Warehouse → Brewery & Taproom – Denver

Adaptive Reuse18,000 SF

Retail Redevelopment – Denver Metro

Tenant Improvement65,000 SF

Multi-Specialty Animal Hospital – Houston, TX

Design-Build18,000 SF

Multi-Site Urgent Care Rollout – Southwest

Design-Build5,000 SF/site

15,000 SF Class A Office – Denver, CO

Design-Build15,000 SF

Barryknoll Multifamily – Houston, TX

Multifamily Construction—

Industry Expertise

Expertise Across Every Commercial Asset Class

TCG's design-build portfolio spans the full spectrum of commercial construction. Our integrated model allows us to tailor solutions to the unique code, operational, and performance requirements of each building type.

Retail & Rollouts — QSR, grocery, big-box, specialty retail. Hospitality & Restaurant — Hotels, restaurants, casinos, theaters. Healthcare & Life Sciences — Hospitals, cleanrooms, pharma, labs. Cold Storage & Food Processing — Warehouses, distribution, processing. Office & Tenant Improvement — Class A towers, TI, headquarters. Industrial & Manufacturing — Heavy industrial, logistics, light mfg. Data Centers & Critical Infrastructure — Mission-critical, edge, colocation. Self-Storage Facilities — Climate-controlled, drive-up, conversion. Cannabis & CEA — Cultivation, processing, dispensary. Life Sciences & Biotech — BSL labs, cleanrooms, research. Veterinary Clinics — Animal hospitals, emergency, rehab. Adaptive Reuse — Conversions, historic, mixed-use. Urgent Care & Walk-In — Freestanding, retail TI, rollout. Controlled Environment Agriculture — Indoor farms, greenhouses.

The TCG Advantage — Smarter, Faster, Leaner

Our design-build model eliminates silos, reduces risk, and delivers projects faster with greater cost certainty. Backed by our national reach, in-house design teams, and trusted engineering partners, TCG ensures your project is built to last — while saving you time and money.

Self-performing capabilities in IMP installation and PEMB erection give us direct control over critical building envelope scopes that most general contractors subcontract out. Combined with commercial roofing, commercial flooring, and equipment procurement, TCG offers a depth of self-performed scope that compresses schedules and reduces coordination risk.

Is your current GC underperforming? Ask us about our Owner's Rep and Construction Management services — designed for owners who need an experienced advocate on their side.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Browse below, visit our general FAQ page, or contact TCG directly. Want to talk through your project? Schedule a meeting with us now.

TCG's design-build scope includes programming, architectural and engineering design, early cost modeling, permitting, procurement, and full construction delivery — all managed under one contract with single-point accountability.

Design-build typically compresses project schedules by 20–33% compared to design-bid-build because design and construction phases overlap rather than running sequentially. TCG's preconstruction planning further accelerates timelines.

Yes — TCG's design-build team includes licensed architects and engineers in all 50 states, allowing seamless integration of design and construction phases under one roof.

TCG delivers design-build projects across cold storage, food processing, pharmaceutical cleanrooms, hospitality, retail, industrial, healthcare, data centers, multifamily, and institutional sectors.

Costs vary by project type, size, and location. TCG provides free preliminary estimates through our AI-powered estimator and detailed preconstruction cost opinions at every design milestone — from schematic design through 100% construction documents.

In design-bid-build, the owner contracts separately with a designer and a general contractor, creating handoff gaps and potential scope conflicts. In design-build, one team manages both under a single contract, reducing risk and compressing schedules by 20–33%.

Yes — TCG self-performs insulated metal panel (IMP) installation, pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) erection, and controlled-environment equipment installation, giving us direct control over cost, schedule, and quality for critical building envelope scopes.

Yes — TCG's national subcontractor network allows design-build delivery in secondary markets and rural areas. We're licensed across 38 states with offices in Denver, Houston, Albany, and Sheridan.

TCG integrates architectural design, MEP engineering, structural engineering, and construction under one contract with AI-powered cost estimating. Our self-performing IMP and PEMB capabilities give us direct control over building envelope scopes that most GCs subcontract out.

No — design-build typically costs the same or less. The DBIA reports 6% lower cost growth on design-build projects. The single-contract structure eliminates scope gaps and reduces change orders that inflate costs in design-bid-build.

Explore TCG's Full Construction Platform

Nationwide Coverage

Design-Build Services Coast to Coast

TCG delivers design-build construction from offices in Denver, Houston, Albany, and Sheridan — with active project coverage in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Jacksonville, Louisville, Miami, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, Richmond, Birmingham, Tampa, and Salt Lake City.

Design smart. Build better. Go further — with TCG.

Ready to Start Your Design-Build Project?

With 100+ projects delivered across 38 states, TCG is the nationwide design-build partner you can trust for schedule certainty, cost control, and single-source accountability.

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TCG Projects