If you’re a developer or property owner planning a commercial project, you’ve likely asked: What’s the most efficient way to get this built? How can we stay on schedule and within budget without sacrificing quality?
We hear these questions all the time at Crain, especially as Nashville’s construction landscape shifts and global issues like rising material costs and tariffs impact timelines and budgets. And we care deeply about helping our clients find the right answers and maximize a project’s long-term value.
Our approach as a construction partner goes beyond delivering a finished building—it’s about building smarter from the start. That’s why many of our clients choose a design-build delivery method, where our team leads and integrates both design and construction from day one.
In contrast to the traditional design-bid-build model, where design must be fully complete before construction can begin, design-build allows construction activities like permitting and procurement to move forward while design is still underway. This overlap creates momentum. When it’s done right, it can reduce risk, save time, and keep costs under control.
Less Hassle, More Progress: The Real Value of Design-Build Construction
Here are a few of the biggest advantages clients experience when working with Crain on a design-build construction project:
1. Accelerated Schedules: Build Momentum from Day One
In a traditional process, design, permitting, and construction happen in sequence. Design-build allows us to move in parallel. That means we can start earlier and finish sooner. Our team can begin coordinating with Nashville’s permitting officials and move forward with site prep while final construction drawings are still in development.
2. Real-Time Cost Control: No Sticker Shock, Just Smart Decisions
Crain’s preconstruction team works side by side with architects and engineers to ensure every design decision is informed by the client’s budget. This gives owners the ability to “design to budget” with fewer surprises. Materials, methods, and systems can be evaluated in real time, so clients stay in control of spending.
3. Fewer Change Orders: No Guesswork, No Gotchas
With all stakeholders rowing in the same direction, there’s less risk of missed details, incomplete scopes, or clashing assumptions. We’ve seen how this collaborative and empowering approach significantly reduces change orders, keeping projects on track and helping clients avoid unexpected costs.
4. Single Source of Accountability: No Silos, No Finger-Pointing
Design-build means one contract and one team: Crain. We’re the single point of contact responsible for the project’s success. That eliminates the finger-pointing that sometimes happens between design and construction teams on traditional projects. With Crain, you have a partner who takes ownership from start to finish.
What Makes Crain’s Design-Build Construction Process Different
Our design-build process also shapes how we collaborate, solve problems, and lead projects. It influences every phase of our work, creating stronger partnerships and more efficient outcomes. Here’s what sets Crain’s design-build approach apart:
- Alignment with Stakeholders: Start Together and Stay on Track
We bring the right people to the table early, including project owners, design professionals, and key subcontractors to make sure every voice is heard at the beginning. That leads to clearer goals, fewer surprises, and better outcomes.
- Phased Planning: Getting a Head Start Without Cutting Corners
Crain strategically overlaps phases of work to create momentum. While one part of the team is handling permitting, another is finalizing the structural package. We map out overlapping tasks carefully to maintain quality while gaining valuable time.
- Value Engineering: Helping Clients Choose What Matters Most
We don’t wait until the end of design to talk about cost. Our team updates pricing at regular intervals during design so clients can make informed decisions early, when they’re easier (and cheaper) to adjust. This keeps budgets in check and minimizes last-minute changes. Because we treat each project as if it were our own, our team regularly generates value-engineering ideas to make our clients’ projects more valuable.
- A Proactive Mindset: Solving Problems Before They Become Roadblocks
When issues arise, we don’t defer decisions. We are committed to doing the right thing and embracing a proactive approach to solve them. Our culture is built on collaboration, not blame. We prioritize communication and keep everyone focused on shared goals.
Portfolio Example: A Faster Path to the Finish Line
One example that showcases the power of our design-build approach is our work with McInerney & Associates in White House, Tennessee. McInerney is one of our longtime trade partners. When they needed a new office and warehouse facility, they chose Crain to deliver it through a design-build process.
Here’s how it played out:
- We began permitting while design was still underway, eliminating weeks of downtime and accelerating the overall schedule.
- By coordinating closely with McInerney throughout the process, we were able to adjust the layout mid-project to meet new operational goals without delaying construction.
- The result was a high-quality, flexible facility that met their immediate needs and left room for future growth.
Had this followed a traditional design-bid-build process, McInerney would have faced a longer timeline, less flexibility, and a more fragmented project experience.
See What Design-Build Could Mean for Your Next Project
At Crain, we believe design-build is a smarter, more collaborative way to bring commercial projects to life. When done well, it creates better buildings and better outcomes.
We’ve delivered successful design-build construction projects for clients across Middle Tennessee, including industrial and warehouse developments, hospitality projects, and healthcare spaces. If you’re exploring a more efficient way to build, we’d love to talk.
Let’s connect and see how Crain’s design-build team can support your next project.
