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

Design-build is a project delivery method where a single firm handles both architectural design and construction under one contract. According to the DBIA, design-build projects are delivered 33% faster than design-bid-build with 6% lower cost growth. Design-build now accounts for over 50% of commercial construction in the United States.

TCG's design-build scope includes programming and feasibility, architectural and engineering design, early cost modeling, permitting, procurement, construction delivery, commissioning, and turnover — 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. The DBIA reports design-build is 33% faster overall. TCG's preconstruction planning further accelerates timelines through early procurement of long-lead equipment.

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, reduces change orders, and locks in pricing earlier. Design-build owners benefit from earlier GMP, fewer design-construction conflicts, and lower legal and administrative overhead.

Design-build costs vary by building type, location, and complexity. In 2026: warehouses run $150–$250/SF, offices $200–$400/SF, retail and restaurants $250–$500/SF, medical offices $300–$550/SF, cold storage and food processing $350–$650/SF, and hospitals, data centers, and cleanrooms $650+/SF. Geographic adjustments add another 25–50% swing. Use our free AI estimator for project-specific pricing.

Yes — TCG's design-build team includes licensed architects, MEP engineers, and structural engineers covering all 50 states, allowing seamless integration of design and construction phases under one contract. TCG also partners with 9BA MEP Engineering and 3rd Act Architecture for specialized scopes.

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

Yes — TCG self-performs insulated metal panel (IMP) installation, pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) erection, and controlled-environment equipment installation. Self-performance gives TCG direct control over cost, schedule, and quality on critical building envelope scopes that most GCs subcontract out.

Yes — TCG's national subcontractor network allows design-build delivery in secondary markets and rural areas. We're licensed across all 50 U.S. states with offices in Denver, Houston, Albany, and Sheridan.

In design-bid-build (DBB), the owner contracts separately with a designer and a general contractor, creating handoff gaps and potential scope conflicts. In design-build (DB), one team manages both architecture and construction under a single contract, reducing risk and compressing schedules by 20–33%. DBB remains preferable for publicly funded projects requiring separate procurement; DB is preferred when speed, budget certainty, and specialty trade input matter.

Choose design-build when speed matters, when budget certainty is the priority, when you want a single point of accountability, when the project involves specialty trades that benefit from early contractor input (IMP installation, cold storage envelopes, cleanroom HVAC, mission-critical power), or when the project is privately funded and the owner has flexibility in procurement method. Design-bid-build is better when separate procurement is required (often public projects) or when multiple competitive bids are mandatory on a finished design.

5,000–15,000 SF tenant improvements: 4–6 months. 15,000–50,000 SF ground-up commercial: 8–14 months. 50,000–150,000 SF specialty: 12–22 months. 150,000+ SF complex (hospitals, data centers): 18–36+ months. Design-build typically delivers 20–33% faster than design-bid-build at every project size.

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.

TCG offers a free AI-powered construction cost estimator that returns a preliminary budget in under 2 minutes at /instant-estimator-ai-1. Describe your project and receive a detailed cost range based on 2026 RS Means data and TCG's nationwide project database. Every AI estimate is reviewed by a TCG estimator before any formal proposal is issued.