When a commercial project stalls before it ever breaks ground, the culprit is usually the same: too many separate vendors, too many conflicting schedules, and no single team responsible for the outcome from start to finish. That’s the problem design build solves — and it’s where Aday & Associates has spent over 16 years refining their craft across Texas.
Aday & Associates provides commercial design build services in Round Rock, TX, and throughout the state of Texas. As a Best of Round Rock 2025 award winner in the construction category, we bring the entire project delivery process under one roof — design, engineering, and construction — so your commercial project moves forward with less friction, fewer surprises, and a team that’s accountable for the full result.
If you need a commercial building designed and built right, call us at 855-499-ADAY (2329) or contact us here to get started.
WHAT IS DESIGN BUILD CONSTRUCTION?
Design build is a project delivery method where one team manages both the design phase and the construction phase of a commercial project. Instead of hiring an architect separately, coordinating with engineers independently, and then putting a general contractor in the middle to sort out the gaps, design build consolidates all of that under a single contract with a single point of accountability.
In a traditional design-bid-build approach, the design team and the construction team work in separate silos. When something changes — and on commercial projects, something always changes — you’re left managing the communication gap between two parties who are both protecting their own interests. With design build, those parties are the same team. The architect, engineers, and construction crew are aligned from day one, which means decisions get made faster, problems get resolved at the source, and your project stays on track.
For business owners and commercial developers in Round Rock and across Central Texas, design build is especially valuable when you need speed, cost predictability, and a cohesive result. You have a business to run. You shouldn’t also have to referee a construction project.
WHAT DESIGN BUILD INVOLVES
Design build is not a shortcut — it’s a smarter sequencing of the same work that every commercial project requires. When you engage Aday & Associates for a design build project, we begin with concept development: understanding your goals, your budget, how the building needs to function, and what success looks like when the ribbon is cut. From there, our team coordinates the full range of design disciplines — architectural design, structural engineering, mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) engineering, civil engineering, landscape architecture, geotechnical investigation, and surveying — in a single, coordinated workflow. Because design and construction are handled by the same firm, the engineering decisions are being made with full awareness of what the construction crew needs to execute them efficiently. Value engineering happens in real time, not after drawings are finalized and the budget has already blown past what you expected. Construction begins once plans are ready, the site is prepared, and all preconstruction requirements — permitting, utility coordination, site analysis — are in order. Throughout every phase, you receive regular project updates from one consistent contact, not a relay race of emails between competing firms. When the building is complete, you move in with confidence that the team responsible for the design is also the team that stood behind the construction.
WHO DESIGN BUILD IS RIGHT FOR
Design build is a strong fit for a wide range of commercial clients. If you are a business owner planning to build or significantly renovate a commercial facility in Round Rock, Austin, or anywhere in Texas, design build simplifies the process considerably. It is especially well-suited for clients who are working on a defined timeline, managing a specific budget, or who simply prefer having one trusted partner manage the complexity on their behalf.
We have completed design build projects across a broad range of commercial sectors, including financial institutions, medical facilities, retail centers, automotive businesses, Class A office and warehouse developments, recreation facilities, and religious buildings. Regardless of your industry, if your project requires thoughtful design and reliable execution, our team is built for it.
OUR DESIGN BUILD PROCESS
Step 1 — Discovery and Concept Development
We start by sitting down with you — or connecting by phone — to fully understand what you’re trying to build and why. This includes your program requirements (how the building needs to function), your timeline, your budget, and your long-term plans for the facility. We also conduct a site analysis and assess any existing conditions, permits, or local zoning considerations that will affect the project. This step sets the foundation for everything that follows, and it’s where we earn your trust before a single drawing is produced.
Step 2 — Design Coordination Across All Disciplines
With a clear project scope in place, our team coordinates the full design process: architectural design, structural engineering, MEP engineering, civil engineering, landscape architecture, geotechnical investigation, and surveying. Because all of these disciplines are working in coordination under one project team, design decisions are made with construction realities in mind from the start. This reduces costly redesigns, eliminates the gaps that slow down traditional design-bid-build projects, and keeps your project moving on a realistic schedule.
Step 3 — Preconstruction Planning and Permitting
Before construction begins, we handle the preconstruction groundwork — including permit applications, utility coordination, and any final value engineering needed to confirm the project is buildable within your budget. This phase also includes subcontractor procurement, material scheduling, and site preparation planning. Most clients find this is where design build delivers its clearest value: potential cost and schedule issues are identified and resolved before they become field problems.
Step 4 — Construction Execution
With plans approved and preconstruction complete, our construction team takes over — and they’re not starting from scratch. They built the plan. They know every detail, every specification, every decision that was made during design. That continuity shows up on the job site in the form of fewer delays, cleaner coordination, and a crew that is genuinely invested in the quality of the outcome. We maintain regular communication with you throughout construction so you’re never wondering what’s happening on your project.
Step 5 — Project Closeout and Handoff
When construction is complete, we walk the project with you to ensure everything meets the standards we committed to at the start. We handle the closeout process — final inspections, punch list items, documentation — and make sure you receive the building ready to occupy. Our relationship with clients doesn’t end at the ribbon cutting. Aday & Associates remains available after project completion, because we treat every client as a long-term partner, not a one-time transaction.
WHAT SETS ADAY & ASSOCIATES APART
Aday & Associates has been delivering commercial construction projects in Texas since 2009. In that time, we have built banks, restaurants, medical offices, print facilities, automotive centers, churches, and Class A office buildings — projects that required both precision design and reliable construction management across multiple municipalities with different codes, permitting processes, and community expectations.
We were awarded Best of Round Rock 2025 in the Construction Category, which reflects the reputation we’ve built through consistent delivery, honest communication, and treating every client’s project as if it were our own. Our clients don’t just hire us for one project. They come back, refer their colleagues, and remain available to speak on our behalf because the experience they had was different from what they expected. That matters to us more than any award.
Our team brings the same disciplined, team-oriented approach to every design build project — whether it’s a first-time commercial build or a client who has worked with us across multiple properties. You can read what our clients have said, or you can call us and find out for yourself.
SERVICES THAT PAIR WELL WITH DESIGN BUILD
Design build works best when it is supported by the right surrounding services. Many of our clients engage us for the full scope of commercial project delivery, which often includes:
Pre-construction Consulting — Before committing to a design build contract, some clients benefit from early consulting to evaluate feasibility, assess site options, and pressure-test their budget assumptions. Our pre-construction consulting services are specifically designed for this stage.
Construction Management — For clients who have a separate owner’s representative or who want an additional layer of project oversight, our construction management services provide structured scheduling, budget tracking, subcontractor coordination, and quality control throughout the build.
Planning and Development — Navigating the entitlement and planning process in Texas municipalities can be complex. Our planning and development services help clients work through zoning, land use approvals, and development coordination before design begins.
Dirtwork, Concrete, and Site Utilities — Site preparation is a critical first step in any commercial construction project. Our dirtwork, concrete, and site utilities services ensure the site is properly prepared before vertical construction begins.
If you’re evaluating a design build for an upcoming project, we’re happy to discuss which services make sense given your timeline, your site, and your goals.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What’s the difference between design build and hiring an architect and contractor separately?
With a traditional approach, you hire an architect to produce drawings, go out to bid, and then hire a contractor who had no involvement in the design. If something in the drawings is unclear, expensive to build, or needs to change, the architect and contractor may point at each other while your schedule slips. With design build, one team is responsible for both. There’s no gap to fall into, and no separate contract to manage. Decisions get made by the same people who have to live with them — which tends to result in better decisions, made faster.
Is design build more expensive than the traditional method?
Not necessarily. Design build can actually reduce total project cost because the team is actively value engineering throughout the design phase, not after construction bids come in over budget. Because the construction team understands what the drawings are asking for, there are also fewer costly changes once work begins. Every project is different, but the design build approach gives your team far more control over cost outcomes than the traditional approach.
How long does a commercial design build project typically take?
Timeline depends on the size and complexity of the project, the site conditions, and local permitting requirements. Because design and construction can be sequenced and overlapped more efficiently in a design build delivery, projects often move faster than they would under a traditional design-bid-build model. During your initial consultation, we will walk through a realistic schedule based on your specific project.
Can Aday & Associates help if I haven’t found a site yet?
Yes. We can assist with site analysis and pre-construction planning to help you evaluate potential locations before you commit. Understanding the site — its soil conditions, utility access, zoning, and proximity to infrastructure — early in the process can prevent costly surprises later.
Do you only work in Round Rock, or can you handle projects across Texas?
Our headquarters is in Round Rock, but we have completed commercial projects across the entire state of Texas. If your project is located outside of Central Texas, reach out and we’ll discuss what’s involved in serving your specific location.
What types of commercial projects do you take on through design build?
We have completed design build projects across a wide range of commercial sectors, including financial, medical, retail, automotive, office and warehouse, recreation, and religious facilities. If you have a commercial project in Texas and want a single team to manage it from concept through construction, we’d be glad to discuss it.
How do I get started with a design build project?The first step is a conversation. Call us at 855-499-ADAY (2329) or fill out the contact form on our website and tell us about your project. We’ll set up an initial consultation to understand your goals and determine whether design build is the right approach for your timeline and budget.