Design-Build Industrial Construction Services
Single-source project delivery that unifies engineering design and construction under one contract
— reducing risk, compressing project schedules, and delivering cost certainty for grain, feed,
biofuel, and agri-industrial facilities across North America.
What Is Design-Build?
One Contract. One Team. Complete Accountability.
The design-build delivery method unifies engineering design and construction under a single contract with Todd & Sargent. Unlike traditional design-bid-build procurement, there is no contractual gap between your designer and your contractor — we are both.
For owners of grain elevators, feed manufacturing plants, biofuel facilities, flour mills, and agri-industrial complexes, design-build means a single point of contact, a single integrated schedule, and one team fully accountable for your project’s outcome. Our in-house licensed engineers and experienced field crews collaborate from day one — catching constructability issues before they become expensive change orders.
Todd & Sargent has delivered design-build projects across Iowa, the Midwest, and throughout North America for more than 90 years. Our integrated team is uniquely positioned to self-perform both the engineering design and the construction phases of complex industrial facilities — delivering faster project completion and greater cost certainty than any alternative procurement method.
Key Fact: Design-build projects can be completed 30–50% faster than traditional design-bid-build procurement, with significantly fewer change orders and cost surprises.
Key Advantages
Faster Project Delivery
By overlapping the design and construction phases, Todd & Sargent’s design-build projects are delivered substantially faster than traditional procurement — without sacrificing quality, compliance, or long-term facility performance.
Cost Certainty & Reduced Risk
A single contract means one budget, one schedule, and one team responsible for the outcome. The most common source of cost overruns — conflicts between the designer and the contractor — is eliminated entirely.
Constructability by Design
Our engineers design with construction in mind from the first sketch. Every structural and process decision is reviewed by field-experienced professionals who will build it — eliminating RFIs and costly late-stage design revisions.
The Todd & Sargent Design-Build Process
Our six-phase process guides every design-build project from the earliest concept conversation
through construction completion and plant startup — maintaining full owner transparency at every
milestone.
01
Discovery & Feasibility
We begin with a deep dive into your operational goals, site conditions, budget parameters, regulatory environment, and production targets. Our team conducts site visits, geotechnical investigations, and utility assessments to establish project viability and identify potential risks before any design investment is made.
02
Concept Design & Budgeting
Our in-house engineers develop conceptual facility layouts, process flow diagrams, and equipment lists tailored to your production requirements. Simultaneously, our estimating team builds a preliminary budget tied directly to the design — so you have real cost data as design decisions are made, not after the fact.
03
Design Development & Permitting
We advance the design through schematic and design development phases, incorporating your feedback at every milestone. Our team identifies and manages all required permits — building, environmental, stormwater, air quality — and coordinates with local, state, and federal authorities to minimize permitting delays.
04
Construction Documents & Procurement
Final PE-stamped construction drawings are completed by our licensed professional engineers. Long-lead equipment and structural steel are procured strategically to protect your schedule and lock in pricing. Our procurement team leverages decade-long supplier relationships for competitive sourcing.
05
Field Construction
Our self-performing field crews execute construction with safety-first discipline, using daily reporting, weekly schedule updates, and real-time cost tracking to keep your project transparent. Slipform concrete, structural steel erection, mechanical systems, and electrical work are all managed under one team.
06
Commissioning & Startup
Before handover, our commissioning team systematically tests every system, verifies all controls and safety interlocks, trains your operations staff, and documents baseline performance parameters. Your facility is delivered ready for full-scale production from the first day of operations.
Why Industrial Owners Choose Design-Build
Single Point of Contact
One team, one contract, and one phone number. No finger-pointing between your designer and your contractor. Todd & Sargent owns the entire project outcome and stands behind every decision made from concept to commissioning.
Collaborative Problem-Solving
When challenges arise — and they always do on complex industrial projects — our integrated team solves them internally and quickly, preventing the costly delays and change orders that plague traditionally procured projects.
Constructability Built In
Our engineers design with construction in mind from day one. Every structural connection, every equipment clearance, and every sequencing decision is reviewed by field-experienced professionals before the drawings are issued for construction.
Real-Time Value Engineering
Early integration of cost and schedule data into the design allows our team to identify cost-saving alternatives without compromising your facility’s operational performance, longevity, or safety compliance.
Reduced Administrative Burden
Managing a single design-build contract is dramatically simpler than coordinating separate engineering and construction contracts. Your team can stay focused on running your business while we manage the project.
Proven for Ag-Industrial Projects
Design-build is especially well-suited to grain elevators, feed mills, biofuel facilities, and agri-industrial plants where process complexity, specialized equipment, and tight operational windows demand tight coordination between design and construction.
Design-Build FAQs
What types of facilities does Todd & Sargent build using design-build?
Todd & Sargent delivers design-build projects for grain storage and handling facilities, commercial grain elevators, feed manufacturing plants, pellet mill facilities, flour mills, ethanol and biofuel plants, oilseed processing facilities, agri-industrial complexes, and bulk material handling systems.
How does design-build differ from construction management at-risk?
In design-build, a single entity holds both the design and construction contracts and is fully responsible for both the design quality and the construction outcome. In CM at-risk, a construction manager takes on cost risk but typically the owner still holds the design contract. Design-build provides the cleanest single-source accountability.
Can Todd & Sargent do design-build in multiple states and provinces?
Yes. Todd & Sargent is licensed in multiple states and holds construction licenses across the US and Canada. Our engineers are registered Professional Engineers in the states and provinces where our projects are located.
How does design-build pricing work?
Todd & Sargent typically begins with a preliminary budget tied to a conceptual design, then transitions to a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) or lump-sum contract once the design reaches sufficient detail. This approach gives owners early cost visibility while protecting against final price surprises.
Ready to Explore Design-Build for Your Project?
Contact our design-build team today to discuss your next grain, feed, biofuel, or agri-industrial facility project.
