Design+Build

What Design+Build does

Design+Build (legal entity D&B Company Inc), operating as DBW, is a US-based professional services firm providing integrated workplace strategy, design, and construction delivery for corporate interiors. The firm serves multi-state corporate organizations with complex, multi-location real estate portfolios, engaging directly with corporate real estate teams and executive leadership on engagements that span workplace transformation, portfolio rationalization, and standardized design standards across geographies. Industry verticals in the disclosed case-study base include legal services (Epstein Becker Green), biotechnology and materials science (Bolt Threads), semiconductor manufacturing, trading and commodities (Forest City Trading Group), consumer tools (Leatherman), private equity, consulting (Propeller Consulting), accounting (Delap / Aprio), digital marketing (Logical Position), and architecture/engineering (SSOE Group).

DBW's core offering is organized into five interconnected service areas: Workplace Strategy, Real Estate Alignment, Design Leadership, Project Management, and Construction Delivery. The firm's methodology is an integrated design-build model adapted from the Sydney, Australia 'fit-out' delivery standard and introduced to North America in 2010 by founders Jeffrey Snair and Daniel Snair. The approach is designed to reduce the fragmentation typical of sequential strategy -> design -> delivery workflows, with senior leadership directly engaged end-to-end ("no handovers, no dilution"). The firm holds Oregon contractor license #168719 and Washington license CCDESIG**781R8, and aligns projects to LEED, FSC, and OSHA standards.

The business model is project-based professional services with quote-driven, scope-dependent pricing and no published tiers or recurring revenue streams. Distribution is exclusively direct enterprise field sales — no resellers, marketplaces, or indirect channels. Marketing is primarily content-led via the company website and Insights blog, supplemented by detailed project case studies. The firm operates from a seven-market studio network (Portland HQ, Seattle, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston), has 11-50 employees, was founded in 1977 (current model formalized in 2010), rebranded from DESIGN+BUILD to DBW in April 2024, and remains privately held under founder control with no external institutional investment.

Name

Design+Build

Legal name

D&B Company Inc

Website

https://db-workspace.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Design+Build (DBW) is a US professional services firm that delivers integrated workplace strategy, design, and construction services to multi-state corporate organizations managing complex, multi-location real estate portfolios across seven US cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Workplace Design Services: Professional services revenue derived from workplace strategy consulting, architectural design, and project management services for corporate real estate transformation projects. Revenue is project-based, typically for multi-location workplace fit-out and construction delivery engagements with corporate clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DBW provides integrated design-build workplace services for corporate clients managing multi-location real estate portfolios. Its offerings span Workplace Strategy, Real Estate Alignment, Design Leadership, Project Management, and Construction Delivery, unifying the full project lifecycle from initial business and cultural analysis through architectural design and on-site construction completion. Engagements are project-based, custom, and quote-driven, with senior firm leadership directly engaged from start to finish.

Product overview

DBW operates as a professional services firm offering an integrated design-build delivery model for commercial workplace environments. The company provides five interconnected service areas: Workplace Strategy, Real Estate Alignment, Design Leadership, Project Management, and Construction Delivery. Formerly known as DESIGN+BUILD, the firm rebranded to DBW in 2024. DBW partners with corporate real estate teams to shape, design, and deliver workplaces that perform, with services spanning the full project lifecycle from initial strategy through construction completion. The company operates a multi-market studio network with offices in Portland, Seattle, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Boston.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workplace Strategy Analyzes business goals, team behaviors, and cultural priorities to create environments that support performance and well-being, helping organizations adapt to changing work patterns including hybrid models and evolving technologies.
• Real Estate Alignment Ensures real estate decisions are fully aligned with business strategy and financial objectives by evaluating existing portfolios, identifying optimization opportunities, and guiding smarter investments.
• Design Leadership Creates functional and inspiring spaces by translating brand identity, culture, and operational needs into environments that reflect client identity and aspirations.
• Project Management Coordinates all aspects of delivery from planning and scheduling to risk management and stakeholder communication, acting as a single point of accountability throughout the process.
• Construction Delivery Manages the build process with emphasis on safety, craftsmanship, and adherence to design intent, ensuring efficient delivery without compromising quality.

Quantifiable outcome

• Award-winning CoStar Lease of the Year workplace achieved for Bridgewell Resources
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• CoDesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoDesign partnered with DBW on the Bolt Threads headquarters project in San Francisco, contributing to the design and delivery of the wellness-focused creative hub and life science labs workspace.
• Apex Real Estate PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerApex Real Estate Partners collaborated with DBW on the Epstein Becker Green West Coast expansion project, supporting strategic real estate advisory services alongside the workspace design and delivery.
• Arke ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArke Management partnered with DBW on the Epstein Becker Green project, providing management expertise to complement the workspace design and delivery services.
• Design CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign Collective collaborated with DBW on the Epstein Becker Green project as the architectural design partner, working alongside DBW's integrated delivery approach.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CBRE: Largest global commercial real estate services firm with workplace strategy, design, and project management capabilities. Competes with DBW on enterprise portfolio mandates and can bundle design-build with brokerage, property management, and consulting services.
• HOK: Global design, architecture, and engineering firm with workplace and commercial interiors capabilities. Competes with DBW for enterprise workplace projects while serving broader markets including aviation, healthcare, and sports.
• Gensler: Largest global architecture and design firm with a major workplace practice serving enterprise clients. Overlaps with DBW in workplace strategy and design but operates at vastly larger scale with broader service lines including master planning and brand strategy.
• JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle): Global real estate services firm with workplace, project management, and design practices through its JLL Design and JLL Project & Development Services divisions. Competes with DBW on enterprise workplace mandates while bundling brokerage, facilities, and capital markets services.
• Perkins&Will: Major architecture and design firm with significant workplace interiors practice serving corporate, healthcare, and education clients. Comparable to DBW in providing design services to enterprises but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Cannon Design: Integrated design firm offering architecture, engineering, and interiors services. Comparable to DBW in targeting enterprise clients with integrated design and delivery across multiple sectors and geographies.

Emerging players

• Swinerton: National general contractor with growing interior build-out and workplace delivery capabilities. Overlaps with DBW on the construction delivery side for commercial interior projects, though less focused on integrated design strategy.

Direct peers

• Unispace: Workplace strategy, design, and construction firm operating across multiple global markets. Closely aligned with DBW in offering an integrated single-source delivery model for corporate workplace transformation projects.
• IA Interior Architects: Workplace-focused interior architecture firm serving enterprise clients with design and delivery services. Comparable to DBW in targeting corporate interiors and multi-location portfolio engagements.
• M Moser Associates: Global workplace design-build firm offering integrated strategy, design, and construction delivery for corporate clients. Directly competes with DBW in the integrated workplace fit-out model for enterprise clients across multiple geographies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/designbuild_pdx
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/design-build-workspace

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Design+Build