Ground-Up Commercial Construction
$175–$425 per sq ft
Ground-up construction has to land in the right order. Site work, foundation, structure, envelope, and the trades all depend on each other, and a missed handoff costs weeks. We build free-standing retail, small office, medical, and light-industrial buildings across Katy and west Houston under one contract. We manage the civil and site work, the slab, the structure, and the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC ourselves. We plan around the Texas summer, since the heat pushes concrete and site work toward spring and fall, and we run the permit and inspection process through to your certificate of occupancy (CO).
What We Do
- Free-standing retail, small office, medical, and light-industrial buildings
- Civil and site work, foundation, structure, and envelope under one contract
- In-house plumbing, electrical, and HVAC from rough-in to final connections
- Design-build available, one contract for design and construction
- Scheduling planned around Texas heat and hurricane season
- Permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy handled for you
Why hire one contractor for the whole project?
We handle mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work in-house. We also handle City of Katy and Harris/Fort Bend County permits ourselves. That means one contractor instead of three. Every job gets a named project manager and a clean, documented permit record. No hidden change orders. No chasing separate subs.
Get a free estimate →Prices shown are estimates for typical Katy-area projects. Actual cost depends on scope, finishes, materials, and permit requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ground-up commercial construction cost in Katy, TX?
Ground-up commercial construction in the Katy and west Houston metro generally runs about $175 to $425 per square foot. The price depends on the building type, structural system, site conditions, and finish level. Free-standing retail and small office buildings sit toward the lower end, and medical and specialized light-industrial buildings cost more. We give a detailed estimate after reviewing the site and the program.
How long does ground-up commercial construction take?
A small free-standing commercial building in the Katy area typically takes about 6 to 12 months from groundbreaking to certificate of occupancy. The timeline depends on size, site work, and the permit process. Civil and site work, foundation, structure, envelope, the trades, and finish all have to land in the right order, and we manage that sequence under one contract.
What does a ground-up commercial project include?
Ground-up commercial covers the full build. That includes civil and site work, foundation and slab, structure, building envelope, the full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing scope, and interior finish, all under a single contract. Managing it as one team means a missed handoff between trades doesn't cost you weeks the way it can when every scope is a separate contract.
When is the best time to break ground in the Houston metro?
Spring and fall are the best windows for site and concrete work in the Houston metro. Summer heat slows outdoor labor, and hurricane season runs June through November. We plan ground-up schedules around those windows and push to get the building enclosed before peak weather hits.
Can you handle design-build for a ground-up project?
Yes. We offer design-build delivery on ground-up commercial, putting the architecture, engineering, and construction under one contract. That single point of contact builds cost and buildability into the design from day one, and it's usually faster than design-bid-build, where the architect and the contractor are separate parties.
Who handles permits and the certificate of occupancy?
We handle the City of Katy and county permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy process ourselves, so the project doesn't stall at the finish line. The same team that built the project chases the final inspections, so issues get resolved fast instead of bouncing between trades.
Related Services
Shopping Center & Retail Buildout
We build anchor retail, in-line shops, restaurant pads, and food-court units across Katy and west Houston. One team handles your project from white box to grand opening.
Design-Build & Architecture Coordination
One contract covers the design and the construction. We coordinate the architecture, engineering, and the build, which is usually faster than design-bid-build.
Planning a buildout or remodel?
Call or text. Talk to the team that handles design, permits, and MEP under one roof.
Call or text · Answered live(832) 490-8910