Services
Design-build services
Design-Build in Greater Montréal
Design-build means one contract and one team for both the design and the construction — instead of hiring a designer, then separately hiring a builder, and standing in the gap when they disagree. It's the model we've run since 2002, and it exists to kill one specific failure: the design that wins your approval turning out to cost more, or build differently, than what you signed off on.
Design-build vs. the traditional split
In the traditional design-bid-build route you hold two contracts and own the coordination risk between them. Design-build collapses that into one accountable party: the drawings are priced as they're drawn, construction can start on early phases while later design finalises, and there's no one to point at but us. Our design-build vs. traditional guide walks through both routes in more depth, including the cases where the traditional route is the better choice.
What one contract covers
Coordinated in-house, priced as one number: Where a building falls under Quebec's Architects Act, an architect still directs that part of the design; our guide to architects and designers in Quebec explains where that line falls.
- Design and concept
- Construction drawings
- Permits
- Procurement
- Construction
- Finishing and handover
Where we do this work
We take on design-build projects across Greater Montréal. Each area page covers how projects run there, including the local permit process.
The in-house difference
One accountable party — literally, not contractually
Design-build only means anything if the design is genuinely in-house — otherwise the seam between designer and builder is still there, just hidden inside one invoice. On the work we can carry end to end, our design is done under our own roof, by APDIQ-member designers, so “one accountable party” is literally true. On a project subject to the Architects Act, we bring the architect in to direct the design from the first sketch rather than handing them a finished concept — so the accountability stays whole across the whole project, not just our part of it.
Frequently asked
Design-Build — your questions, answered.
What is design-build and how does it differ from design-bid-build?
Design-build places design and construction under one contract with a single team, so one party is accountable for both. In traditional design-bid-build, the owner hires a designer, then separately bids and hires a contractor under distinct contracts, coordinating between them. Design-build gives you one point of accountability instead of managing two contracts and the gap between them.
Is design-build faster or cheaper than the traditional approach?
Design-build can move faster because construction can begin on early phases while later design is still being finalized, rather than waiting for a fully completed design before bidding. It also allows progressive, real-time cost estimating as the design develops, so budget surprises are caught earlier. Actual savings and timelines depend on the specific project and scope.
Who is accountable if something goes wrong on a design-build project?
In design-build, one entity is responsible for both the design and the construction, so accountability is centralized rather than split between an architect and a contractor. That reduces the finger-pointing common when problems arise under separate contracts. In Quebec, the firm performing the construction work must still hold a valid RBQ licence for the coordinated build.
Can design-build start from drawings we already have?
Yes. Existing drawings can be the starting point: we review them for code compliance, constructability and cost, then carry the design forward under the single design-build contract. Depending on how complete they are, some sheets may need to be redrawn or updated. How much of the existing work can be reused is set at the consultation, once we've seen the drawings.
Is an architect or engineer still involved in a design-build project?
Where the law requires it, yes. If a building falls under Quebec's Architects Act, an OAQ-member architect directs that part of the design from the outset, and engineers seal the structural, mechanical or electrical work that requires it. Design-build changes who holds the contract, not which professionals the project needs.
When is the construction price set in design-build?
Cost is estimated progressively as the design develops, so budget questions come up while changes are still cheap to make. The price becomes firm as the design is resolved; the contract form (for example, a fixed price for a defined scope, or cost-plus with a fee) and when the price is set are agreed at the consultation and written into the contract.
Start a project
Have a space in mind? Let's design and build it.
Tell us about your project — commercial, retail, or residential — and we'll walk you through what design-build can deliver. Consultations across Greater Montréal.
Direct
(514) 697-1742info@indesignconstruction.caService area
- Montréal
- South Shore / Rive-Sud
- North Shore / Rive-Nord
- Laval
- Vaudreuil-Soulanges
- West Island