At Johnston Builders, we believe the best projects stem from a unified vision and seamless execution.
Our Design-Build approach offers a streamlined process in which we manage design and construction under a single contract, ensuring a cohesive journey from start to finish.
Because we give you a single, accountable team to manage the architecture, engineering, and construction of your project.
The Design-Build delivery method has several advantages, especially for high-end construction:
From multi-tenant commercial buildings in Maskwacis to hotel construction in Edmonton and redevelopment projects in Jasper, our team brings proven design-build experience across Western Canada.
One of the most significant benefits of our Design-Build approach is the potential for substantial time savings.
By combining the selection of a designer and a builder into a single, efficient step, construction can begin quickly.
The design, permitting, and surveying happen at once, streamlining the project schedule without compromising quality.

Construction contractors possess invaluable, real-world experience regarding the costs associated with materials, labour, equipment rentals, and more. Through the Design-Build method, Johnston Builders leverages this expertise by sharing direct cost insights with the design team during the early stages of your project. This upfront collaboration translates into higher value engineering, where cost-effective solutions are integrated from the outset, and significantly reduces the likelihood of changes later in the project. The result is a more predictable budget and lower overall costs for you.
The single point of responsibility inherent in the Design-Build method substantially reduces the owner’s risk compared to traditional approaches where design and construction responsibilities are split across multiple contracts. As your design-build partner, Johnston Builders is well-positioned to manage and mitigate the risks commonly associated with complex construction projects, providing you with greater peace of mind throughout the entire process.
The Design-Build method is ideal for a wide range of projects, particularly those that are complex, require a high degree of customization, or have tight deadlines. It’s especially beneficial for clients who value a single point of contact and want to minimize their involvement in managing separate design and construction teams.
With Design-Build, pricing is typically developed collaboratively and transparently. Early cost insights from our construction experts are integrated during the design phase, allowing for more accurate budgeting and value engineering. We aim to establish a clear project budget early on, often with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) once the design is sufficiently developed, giving you financial predictability.
While project timelines vary based on scope, Design-Build generally offers a faster completion time. This is because design and construction phases can overlap significantly, and the integrated team can make decisions and procure materials more efficiently without waiting for separate contracts or approvals from different entities.
Your involvement is crucial and tailored to your preferences. You’ll be highly engaged during the initial design phase to ensure your vision is captured. Once the design is underway and construction begins, our single point of contact simplifies communication, keeping you informed and involved in key decisions, without the burden of coordinating multiple consultants and contractors.
One of the key advantages of Design-Build is its flexibility. Because our design and construction teams are integrated, changes can be reviewed and incorporated much more seamlessly than in traditional models. We work with you to assess the impact of any desired changes on the schedule and budget, providing clear information to inform your decision before proceeding.

Design-Build offers a streamlined approach to get you the results you want and need.
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