The Design-Build Process

The three stages of our design-build process

  • Dream It

    You have creative ideas, and a realistic budget. We have the years of experience and the creative design team to help bring your vision to life.

  • Design It

    Together, we formalize the designs and you select the elements that will be used in your project.

  • Build It

    Construction begins, and your True North team will guide you through the process, keeping you updated all along the way. You can even follow the progress via online tools and resources.

Dream It

Every project starts with a dream.  Maybe you dream of more space, more convenience, or a completely fresh slate for your home or work environment.

We start with your dream, listening and asking questions that help us understand the specific needs you want your project to address.  We look at the building you want to remodel or the property you want to build on.  We begin to talk about budget and ask questions that help us understand if your project will be feasible to partner on with you.

When we feel that we have a solid understanding of your project, we present you with a design proposal which outlines the scope of work, lays out project cost possibilities based on different levels of material finishes, and outlines the cost of designing your project with you.

Design It

The design phase takes your dreams and your budget through a progressively specific set of 3 phases: the concept, design, and construction document phases.  At each step of the way, both the design and the construction costs become increasingly more detailed, culminating in a final set of construction documents that detail every aspect of the construction phase.  These documents include blueprints, specific selections (i.e. the size, wood selection, finish color, and front panel option of your cabinets), a construction schedule, and the detailed costs associated with completing the construction of your project.

Concepts Design Development Construction Documents
Stage 1 - Concepts

Stage 1 - Concepts

Each and every project is unique, which is why you will meet with the design team to hold a “brainstorming” session with them to sketch out proposed ideas and measure the project to generate an “as built” floor plan.

Stage 2 - Design Development

Stage 2 - Design Development

Once you have decided to move forward into the design phase we will go to work to generate computerized layouts of your proposed plans and develop written specifications and update cost estimates. With this, you will now have enough information to make your final design decisions.

Stage 3 - Construction Documents

Stage 3 - Construction Documents

At the end of this final phase, you will be presented with a construction contract with a fixed price, complete architectural and structural drawings, written project specifications – including final selections of chosen materials, a construction schedule, a schedule of payments, and a copy of our warranty. The hard part is done…now let’s BUILD IT!!

Build It

In the construction phase, True North partners with you to put the design plans into action.  We work with the municipal authorities to make sure that your project is properly documented and approved.  We partner with you by providing smooth communication that helps to eliminate unpleasant surprises.  We empower you with online tools to monitor the progress of your project, and we stay in close personal contact as well.

Live It

True North’s support doesn’t end when the construction is finalized.  We stand behind our work with a solid warranty, and we work hard to ensure your ongoing satisfaction.