Frequently Asked Questions

TCG is a nationwide commercial general contractor and design-build firm with offices in Denver CO, Houston TX, Albany NY, and Sheridan WY. We operate across 38 states providing integrated design, engineering, and construction services for commercial, industrial, healthcare, and specialty facilities.

TCG operates across 38 states from our four offices in Denver, Houston, Albany, and Sheridan. Our nationwide reach allows us to deliver construction in virtually any U.S. market.

Denver, CO (3000 Lawrence St #304), Houston, TX (825 Town & Country Ln #850), Albany, NY (300 Great Oaks Blvd Suite 300), and Sheridan, WY (30 N Gould St #50858). Contact us at any location.

Reach out through our contact page, schedule a consultation, or try our free AI construction estimator for an instant preliminary budget. We'll discuss your project goals and determine how to support you from planning through turnover.

TCG is owned by Will Goodin, Nathan Stabler, and Ben Merritt. Learn more on our about page.

TCG handles projects from 500 SF tenant improvements to 500,000+ SF industrial and agricultural facilities. We're structured to deliver everything from single-location startups to multi-site national rollout programs. See our project portfolio.

Yes. Visit our referrals page for details on how to refer projects to TCG.

Design-build is a delivery method where a single entity provides both design (architecture and engineering) and construction under one contract. It compresses schedules by 15–30%, provides a single point of accountability, and eliminates the adversarial dynamic between designer and builder.

TCG offers Design-Build, General Contracting, Construction Management (CM-at-Risk and CM Agency), and Owner's Representative services. We recommend the delivery method that best fits your project's goals, budget, and timeline.

No. TCG provides in-house architectural design, structural engineering, and MEP engineering. We handle the entire design and permitting process. If you already have plans, we can also bid or build from your existing documents.

Absolutely. We frequently work with client-provided plans as a general contractor, offering competitive bids and construction management to deliver your vision.

Preconstruction includes detailed budgeting, scheduling, constructability reviews, and value engineering — performed before construction starts. It sets your project up for success by identifying cost risks, schedule constraints, and design opportunities early when changes are cheapest.

Yes. Our preconstruction team evaluates sites for utility capacity, zoning, access, and buildability. We provide early budgets that inform go/no-go decisions.

Timelines vary by type: tenant improvements take 2–6 months, offices 8–14 months, warehouses 6–12 months, medical facilities 10–20 months, manufacturing 12–24 months. Design-build compresses timelines by 15–30%.

Construction management is a delivery method where TCG manages the construction process on behalf of the owner — overseeing subcontractors, schedule, budget, quality, and safety. Available as CM-at-Risk (TCG holds subcontracts and guarantees a GMP) or CM Agency (advisory role).

An owner's representative acts as the owner's advocate throughout the construction process — managing the design team, reviewing budgets, monitoring construction quality, and protecting the owner's interests. Ideal for owners who lack in-house construction expertise.

Yes. TCG specializes in multi-site programs where a standardized prototype design is adapted to individual locations — managing local permitting, code compliance, and construction in each market. This approach reduces per-location design cost by 30–50% and compresses construction timelines.

A TI (tenant improvement) allowance is the per-SF amount a landlord contributes toward buildout costs. Typical ranges: office $20–$80/SF, retail $10–$40/SF, medical $30–$100/SF. TCG's preconstruction team helps negotiate allowances and evaluate landlord work letters. Learn more on our tenant improvement page.

Adaptive reuse is converting an existing building from its original purpose to a new use — such as warehouse-to-brewery, office-to-residential, or retail-to-medical. It typically costs 10–30% less than equivalent ground-up construction when the existing structure is sound.

Costs vary significantly by type: offices $150–$350/SF, warehouses $80–$160/SF, medical $200–$500/SF, restaurants $200–$400/SF, manufacturing $100–$500/SF, data centers $300–$1,200/SF. Use our free AI construction estimator for a project-specific range.

Standard warehouses: $80–$160/SF. Cooler storage (35°F): $150–$250/SF. Freezer storage (-10°F to 0°F): $200–$350/SF. Blast freezer (-40°F): $300–$450/SF. IMP panels and refrigeration are the primary cost drivers. See our warehouse & cold storage page.

Basic MOB: $200–$350/SF. Specialty with procedures/imaging: $300–$500/SF. ASC: $400–$650/SF. Cleanrooms: $350–$800+/SF. HVAC and medical gas are the primary drivers. See our healthcare construction page.

Fast casual/QSR: $120–$250/SF. Full-service: $200–$400/SF. Fine dining: $300–$550/SF. Commercial kitchen is the primary cost driver (hood, grease trap, exhaust). See our restaurant construction page.

Indoor cultivation: $250–$600/SF. Greenhouse: $150–$400/SF. Extraction lab (C1D1): $400–$700/SF. Dispensary: $150–$450/SF. HVAC is 25–40% of total cost. See our cannabis construction page.

GP clinic: $200–$400/SF. Multi-doctor hospital: $300–$500/SF. Emergency/specialty: $400–$700/SF. Key drivers: surgical suites ($80K–$200K each), imaging, and kennel HVAC. See our veterinary construction page.

Drive-up non-climate: $25–$50/NRSF. Multi-story climate-controlled: $60–$120/NRSF. Conversions: $30–$70/NRSF. Site work is often 15–25% of total. See our self storage page.

Enterprise server room: $200–$450/SF. Tier III colocation: $500–$1,000/SF. Per MW: $12M–$20M for Tier III. Critical power and cooling are 60–75% of total cost. See our data center page.

Basic walk-in TI: $180–$300/SF. Standard with X-ray/lab: $250–$400/SF. Full-service: $300–$500/SF. X-ray suite: $140K–$320K total installed. See our urgent care page.

Basic office: $30–$80/SF. Standard office: $80–$180/SF. Restaurant: $150–$400/SF. Medical: $180–$500/SF. Lab: $300–$700/SF. Starting condition (shell vs. 2nd-gen) significantly impacts cost. See our TI page.

Light manufacturing: $100–$220/SF. Heavy with cranes: $250–$500/SF. Advanced clean manufacturing: $400–$1,000+/SF. Crane systems add $80K–$600K+ per crane. See our industrial manufacturing page.

Inline retail shell: $80–$150/SF. Conventional grocery: $180–$250/SF. Refrigeration is 15–25% of grocery cost. Full center with outparcels: $12M–$30M. See our grocery retail page.

BSL-1: $300–$550/SF. BSL-2: $400–$700/SF. BSL-3: $600–$1,200+/SF. cGMP bioprocessing: $500–$1,000/SF. Lab HVAC is 35–55% of total cost. See our life sciences page.

TCG.ai is a free AI-powered construction cost estimator that provides preliminary cost ranges based on your project description, location, and specifications. We also offer sector-specific estimators on each of our expertise pages, plus an IMP installation estimator.

Yes — significantly. NYC metro carries a 1.35–1.50x multiplier over national average. SF Bay Area: 1.25–1.40x. Denver: 1.00–1.10x. Houston: 0.90–1.00x. Southeast: 0.88–0.98x. Our estimators apply regional cost indices automatically.

MEP engineering covers mechanical (HVAC), electrical, and plumbing system design. MEP typically represents 25–55% of total construction cost depending on building type — making it the single most impactful engineering discipline in commercial construction.

TCG provides structural engineering for all commercial systems — steel (per AISC), PEMB (per MBMA), concrete (per ACI), cold-formed steel, wood frame, and masonry. Services include foundation design, superstructure design, slab design, crane runway design, seismic analysis, and structural peer review.

A PEMB uses factory-manufactured rigid frames with tapered members optimized for each project. PEMBs are the most cost-effective structural system for single-story clear-span buildings up to 300' wide and 200,000+ SF — ideal for warehouses, manufacturing, and self storage.

Yes. TCG's architectural design team provides space planning, code analysis, construction documents, and permitting — fully integrated with our structural, MEP, and construction teams under one design-build contract.

Yes. Our equipment procurement covers production machinery, commercial kitchen equipment, medical equipment, HVAC systems, cranes, lab equipment, and more — coordinated with construction so foundations, utilities, and rigging are ready when equipment arrives.

Yes. TCG provides commercial flooring including polished concrete, epoxy, LVT, sheet vinyl, carpet tile, rubber, and specialty flooring for healthcare, industrial, and food-service applications.

Yes. Our preconstruction team provides early cost estimates that help negotiate TI allowances, evaluates landlord work letters, identifies scope gaps, and structures buildouts to maximize the allowance. See our tenant improvement page.

TCG builds across all commercial sectors: warehouses & cold storage, hotels & restaurants, healthcare & MOBs, cannabis facilities, CEA/vertical farms, manufacturing, biotech labs, veterinary clinics, self storage, urgent care, grocery/retail, data centers, and adaptive reuse.

CEA is a technology-driven approach to food production where temperature, humidity, light, CO2, and nutrients are precisely controlled to optimize plant growth year-round. Includes vertical farms, commercial greenhouses, and plant factories. See our CEA construction page.

C1D1 (Class I, Division 1) is an NEC electrical classification for spaces with flammable gases during normal operation — such as hydrocarbon extraction rooms. Requires explosion-proof fixtures, intrinsically safe controls, blast-resistant walls, dedicated exhaust, and gas detection. See our cannabis page.

BSL-2 (Biosafety Level 2) labs handle moderate-risk biological agents. Construction requires directional airflow, biosafety cabinets, handwash sinks, autoclave access, and chemical-resistant surfaces. BSL-2 costs $400–$700/SF. See our life sciences page.

AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) is a voluntary quality standard that influences facility design — room requirements, workflow separation, surgical suite standards, and isolation areas. Designing to AAHA from the start avoids costly retrofits. See our veterinary page.

Tier III (Concurrently Maintainable) requires N+1 redundancy — any critical component can be maintained without affecting IT operations. Requires dual power feeds, redundant cooling, UPS with bypass, and multiple generators. Costs 30–50% more than Tier II. See our data center page.

A freestanding building lot at the perimeter of a retail center, typically facing the main road. QSR outparcels: $200–$350/SF. Bank: $250–$400/SF. Site work per pad: $150K–$400K. See our grocery retail page.

When a building's IBC occupancy classification changes (e.g., Storage to Business, Mercantile to Residential). Triggers current code compliance for the new occupancy — fire protection, egress, structural, and ADA upgrades. Often the largest cost driver in adaptive reuse.

Yes — from boutique hotels to select-service properties and restaurant/bar F&B outlets. See our hotel & restaurant page for case studies including Hotel ZaZa and InterContinental.

Yes — ISO 5 through ISO 8 cleanrooms for pharmaceutical manufacturing, compounding pharmacies, and biotech. Our IMP installation and MEP engineering capabilities are critical for cleanroom envelope and HVAC. See our life sciences and healthcare pages.

The Federal Historic Tax Credit provides a 20% income tax credit for certified rehabilitation of National Register properties. State HTCs add 10–25%. Must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. See our adaptive reuse page.

An IMP is a composite panel with two metal facings bonded to a rigid foam core — providing structure, insulation, air barrier, and vapor barrier in a single product. Used for cold storage, cleanrooms, food processing, cannabis, and any thermally critical envelope. See our IMP installation page.

IMP panel costs depend on thickness: 3" panels run $12–$16/SF, 4" panels $15–$22/SF, and 6" panels $20–$30/SF (material only). Installed costs including labor, flashings, and accessories are typically 40–60% higher. Use our IMP estimator for project-specific pricing.

TCG procures and installs IMPs from all major manufacturers including PermaTherm, Kingspan, Metl-Span, and others. We select the optimal panel based on your project's thermal requirements, fire rating, and budget. See our IMP installation page.

IMPs are used in cold storage/freezer facilities, pharmaceutical cleanrooms, cannabis cultivation, CEA/vertical farms, food processing, data centers, and any building requiring a thermally sealed, vapor-tight envelope.

IMP R-values range from approximately R-20 (3" panel) to R-50+ (6"+ panel) depending on core material and thickness. Polyurethane and polyisocyanurate cores offer the highest R-value per inch of any commercial insulation. Use our IMP estimator for recommendations.

FM Approvals (Factory Mutual) tests and certifies IMP wall and roof assemblies for fire resistance, wind uplift, and hail resistance. FM-approved assemblies are often required by insurance carriers for cold storage, food processing, and industrial facilities. See our IMP page.

Commercial construction must comply with the International Building Code (IBC) for structural/occupancy, NFPA fire codes, NEC (NFPA 70) for electrical, ADA for accessibility, ASHRAE for HVAC and energy, and applicable use-specific codes (FGI for healthcare, NFPA 96 for commercial kitchens, etc.).

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires accessible design in all commercial buildings — including accessible routes, door widths, restroom clearances, parking, and signage. Medical and retail facilities have especially stringent ADA requirements. TCG designs for ADA compliance from day one.

The Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) publishes the primary design standard for healthcare facilities — room sizes, clearances, medical gas, ventilation rates, and infection control. Adopted by most state health departments. Relevant for healthcare, urgent care, and veterinary construction.

ASHRAE Standard 170 specifies ventilation requirements for healthcare spaces — air change rates, pressure relationships, temperature, and humidity. It's the primary HVAC design standard for medical facilities and urgent care clinics.

NFPA 96 governs commercial cooking exhaust — hood design, ductwork, fire suppression, and grease management. Required for all restaurant and grocery food-service areas. TCG's MEP team designs kitchen exhaust per NFPA 96.

SDC (A through F) is determined per ASCE 7 and IBC based on location and soil conditions. Higher SDC requires special structural systems (moment frames, braced frames) with ductile detailing. SDC D/E/F can add 15–30% to structural cost. See our structural engineering page.

The International Existing Building Code provides compliance methods for renovations and adaptive reuse — offering more flexibility than applying the full IBC. It's the primary code path for building conversions and major renovations.

Yes. TCG manages the full permitting process — from building permit applications and plan review responses to health department, fire marshal, and specialty permits. Our experience across 38 states means we understand local permitting nuances in every market.

TCG.ai uses artificial intelligence trained on construction cost data, RS Means benchmarks, and regional indices to analyze your project description and generate a preliminary cost estimate in seconds. It's free to use at terrapincg.com/instant-estimator-ai. We also offer sector-specific estimators on each expertise page.

Yes, it's completely free. The AI provides preliminary cost ranges based on industry benchmarks and regional data. It's designed to give you a directional budget before engaging a contractor. All estimates are verified by a TCG estimator before any formal proposal is issued.

PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) = total facility power / IT equipment power. Industry average is ~1.57. Target 1.2–1.4 requires efficient cooling, UPS, and power distribution. Lower PUE = higher build cost but dramatically lower operating expense. See our data center page.

Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification, and Performance Qualification — FDA-required protocols verifying that cGMP systems are installed correctly, operate within specs, and perform consistently. Adds 3–8% to construction cost. See our life sciences page.

Liquid cooling (direct-to-chip, rear-door heat exchangers, or immersion) is required for high-density AI/GPU deployments exceeding 20–50+ kW per rack. It enables much higher power density and better PUE than air cooling but adds construction complexity. See our data center page.