One Coordinated Process From Design Through Construction
Design & Build keeps planning, design decisions and construction under one team, so a project moves through a single organized process instead of being handed between separate designers and contractors.
OVERVIEW
Design & Build is for homeowners whose project needs planning and construction coordinated together from the start — typically additions, major remodels or projects where design decisions and construction scope affect each other directly.
Rather than finalizing a design and then finding a contractor to build it, Design & Build carries scope, design decisions and construction planning through one team, so tradeoffs between design and buildability are worked out early, not discovered mid-project.
WHAT THIS SERVICE CAN INCLUDE
- 01
Preconstruction planning — working through scope, budget direction and constraints before design decisions are finalized.
- 02
Design coordination — aligning layout and design decisions with what's actually buildable within the project's constraints.
- 03
Scope and budget alignment — keeping the design direction and the project budget connected throughout planning.
- 04
Permitting coordination — organizing the documentation and approvals a project needs to move forward.
- 05
Construction sequencing — planning the order of work once design and scope are finalized.
- 06
Single point of accountability — one team responsible for the project from planning through completion.
PROJECT TYPES
Home Additions
Interior Reconfiguration
Major Remodeling
Kitchen and Living Expansions
Outdoor Living
Preconstruction Planning
THE COORDINATED PROCESS
Consultation
Understand the property, the goals for the project and the constraints to plan around.
Scope & Planning
Define the project scope and budget direction before design decisions are finalized.
Design & Coordination
Work through design decisions alongside what's buildable within the approved scope.
Construction
Move into construction with design and scope already aligned, not still being resolved.
Completion
Review the finished project against the original scope and hand it off.
WHY MOLE
Design decisions and construction planning happen together, so buildability is considered early rather than discovered once construction starts.
One team carries accountability for the project from the first conversation through completion.
Design & Build here means a coordinated process, not an in-house architecture or engineering department — design work is coordinated as part of that process, not stamped in-house.
The same coordinated approach applies to residential and commercial projects alike.
RELATED SERVICES
SERVICE AREAS
Northern Virginia
Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington County, City of Alexandria
Washington, D.C.
District of Columbia
Maryland
Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard County
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does Design & Build actually mean at Mole?
It means planning, design decisions and construction are coordinated under one team and one process, rather than a separate designer handing off to a separate contractor.
Does Mole provide in-house architects or engineers?
No — Design & Build refers to a coordinated process. Design decisions are worked through as part of that process, not produced by an in-house architecture or engineering department.
What kinds of projects use Design & Build?
Additions, major remodels and other projects where design decisions and construction scope need to be worked out together are the best fit for this process.
How early does construction planning start?
Preconstruction planning — scope, budget direction and constraints — starts before design decisions are finalized, so the two stay connected throughout.
Is Design & Build only for residential projects?
No — the same coordinated process is available for residential and commercial projects; this page focuses on the residential side of that work.
06 · START YOUR PROJECT
Ready To Build With Clear Direction?
Tell us about your property, priorities and the type of work you are considering.