Do I Need an Architect or a Design-Build Firm?

The Traditional Path: Architect → Builder

Traditionally, you hire an architect to design your home, then shop those plans around to builders. The problem? These two groups often work in silos. The architect may design a beautiful home—but without real-time cost input, you could fall in love with a plan that’s way over budget.

After that, you’ll often need to go back to the drawing board—or worse, try to “value engineer” a design that was never meant to be scaled back.

The Design-Build Difference

Design-build firms, like ours, handle both architecture and construction under one roof. That means we’re thinking about budget, structure, and feasibility from day one.

You don’t just get a beautiful design—you get a design that’s buildable, aligned with your priorities, and backed by real-world pricing from the team who will actually build it.

So Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re doing something highly conceptual—say, a museum or a large-scale commercial space—then a traditional architecture firm might make sense.

But if you’re a homeowner planning a large renovation, addition, or custom home, a design-build firm will typically save you time, money, and headaches—while delivering a more integrated, streamlined process.

Pro Tip: If you’ve already spoken to an architect, get a second opinion from a design-build firm. You might be surprised how different the experience can be.

See more of our work here to help make your decision!