Ground-Up Commercial Construction
$175–$425 per sq ft
Ground-up commercial construction is where a single accountable contractor matters most: site work, foundation, structure, envelope, MEP, and finish all have to land in the right order, and a missed handoff between trades costs weeks. We build free-standing retail, small office and medical buildings, and light-industrial shells across Katy and the west Houston metro under one contract — managing civil and site work, the slab, structure, building envelope, and full MEP in-house. We schedule ground-up work around Houston's climate (the brutal summer pushes site and concrete work toward spring and fall windows) and run the City of Katy and county permit and inspection process so the project reaches certificate of occupancy without stalling.
What We Do
- Free-standing retail, small office, medical, and light-industrial buildings
- Civil/site work, foundation, structure, and building envelope under one contract
- Full in-house MEP coordination from underground rough-in to final connections
- Design-build delivery available — single contract for design + construction
- Schedule planned around Houston heat and hurricane-season windows
- Permit, inspection, and certificate-of-occupancy coordination handled for you
Why hire one team for the whole project?
Because we coordinate mechanical, electrical, and plumbing in-house and expedite City of Katy and Harris/Fort Bend County permits ourselves, you deal with one accountable 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, depending on building type, structural system, site conditions, and finish level. Free-standing retail and small office sit toward the lower end, while medical and specialized light-industrial buildings are higher. We provide a detailed estimate after reviewing the site and 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, depending on size, site work, and the permit timeline. Civil and site work, foundation, structure, envelope, MEP, 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 — civil and site work, foundation and slab, structure, building envelope, full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, and interior finish — all under a single contract. Managing it as one accountable team means a missed handoff between trades doesn't cost you weeks the way it does 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 because the brutal summer heat slows outdoor labor and hurricane season runs June through November. We plan ground-up schedules around those climate windows and pull the building toward enclosure 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 architecture, engineering, and construction under one contract. That single point of accountability builds constructability and budget into the design from day one and is usually faster than the traditional design-bid-build path where the architect and 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 in-house so the project doesn't stall at the finish line. Having the same team that built the project chase the final inspections means issues get resolved fast instead of bouncing between trades.
Related Services
Shopping Center & Retail Buildout
Anchor retail, in-line shop space, restaurant pads, and food-court units across Katy and the west Houston metro — one accountable team from white-box to grand opening.
Design-Build & Architecture Coordination
One contract for design and construction — architecture, engineering, and the build coordinated by a single team, which is usually faster than design-bid-build.
Planning a buildout or remodel?
Call or text — talk to the team that handles design, build, permits, and MEP under one roof.
Call or text · Answered live(832) 490-8910