Healthcare design-build is a delivery method in which a single firm handles both the architecture and construction of a medical facility under a single contract. Unlike design-bid-build, where you hire an architect, then bid the drawings to separate contractors, design-build gives you one accountable team from concept to keys, which reduces change orders, prevents finger-pointing, and usually shortens the schedule.

Typical medical office and clinic fit-outs range from $150 to $350 per square foot. Ground-up outpatient buildings are commonly $300 to $600 per square foot, with specialized suites such as surgery or imaging costing more. Architectural and design fees are usually 6% to 12% of the construction cost. These are general planning ranges. We provide transparent, project-specific estimates that include all costs and profit.

Select a medical building architect with proven healthcare experience, knowledge of commercial and life-safety codes, and the capability to deliver both design and construction. Review completed clinic or office examples, confirm AIA and general contractor credentials, and verify the firm’s approach to budgets and cost transparency before signing.

Yes. Design Build Partners is an integrated design-build firm, meaning the architect and general contractor are one team. You sign one contract and have a single point of contact for design, permitting, and construction.

We design and build medical clinics, outpatient and ambulatory centers, medical office buildings, pediatric clinics, procedure and endoscopy offices, specialty practices, and conversions of existing space. Past work includes the Academy Children’s Clinic, Centennial Medical Center’s endoscopy office, and the Eskander Medical Building.

We routinely convert existing commercial or retail spaces into code-compliant, functional medical clinics and renovate operating healthcare facilities. We phase work to limit disruption. Our architects assess the shell, plan effective layouts for medical staff and patients, and our construction team completes the build.

A typical clinic fit-out or medical office often takes about 6–12 months from design kickoff to occupancy, while ground-up medical buildings can take 12–24 months depending on size, site work, and permitting. Because design and construction overlap in design-build, the overall timeline is usually shorter than design-bid-build.

We are based at 438 Melrose Ave in Nashville and serve healthcare clients across Middle Tennessee, greater Tennessee, and Kentucky. Practices seeking medical building architects, medical office architects, and healthcare design-build firms throughout the region can reach us for a consultation.