Trade Design Build

What Trade Design Build does

Trade Design Build is a privately held integrated architecture, construction, and custom woodworking firm headquartered in Ithaca, New York, serving clients across the Finger Lakes and Central New York region. The company operates a true design-build model, offering full-service architecture (feasibility studies, conceptual design, code analysis, stamped construction drawings, interior design) alongside construction project management and in-house custom millwork, with energy modeling and carbon footprint tracking embedded in the design phase. Its three core service lines are Architecture, Construction, and Woodwork, supported by a woodshop equipped with CNC technology that fabricates custom furniture, reception desks, trim, built-ins, and high-end cabinets.

The firm generates revenue primarily through professional services fees on custom residential and commercial projects, including new custom homes, deep energy retrofits, restaurants, wineries, breweries, retail dispensaries, healthcare offices, and professional offices. A productized sub-brand, TRADE Homes, offers pre-designed cabins, cottages, and homes (Adrian, Walter, Zora, Julian, Luna, Melia) as a more streamlined alternative to fully bespoke work. Pricing is project-specific and not publicly disclosed. Customers are acquired through direct engagement, portfolio website, blog content, gallery exhibitions, and regional referrals, with sustainability expertise (geothermal, net zero, hemp fiber insulation, natural materials) serving as a key differentiator. The founder, Gideon Stone, leads the firm, with Dave Messmer managing the woodshop; headcount is reported at 1-10 employees.

Name

Trade Design Build

Legal name

Trade Design Build

Website

https://tradedesignbuild.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trade Design Build is an Ithaca, New York-based integrated architecture, construction, and custom woodworking firm serving residential and commercial clients in the Finger Lakes region with design-build services, an in-house CNC woodshop, and a pre-designed TRADE Homes product line.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Full-service architecture from concept through construction including feasibility studies, project planning, conceptual design, code analysis, stamped construction drawings, and interior design. Revenue generated through design fees and architectural services.
2. Construction and Project Management: Professional construction company specializing in project management and fine woodworking, ensuring seamless execution from start to finish. Revenue through construction management fees and subcontractor coordination.
3. Custom Woodwork and Casework: Design and craft custom furniture and unique woodwork in their wood shop including reception desks, trim, built-ins, and high-end cabinets. Revenue from custom fabrication and installation.
4. TRADE Homes Pre-Designed Models: Pre-designed cabins, cottages, and homes offered as a more streamlined alternative to fully custom projects. Includes Adrian (800 SF), Walter (365 SF), Zora (400 SF), Julian (1800 SF), Luna (900 SF), and Amelia (850 SF) models.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Trade Design Build is an integrated architecture and construction firm that delivers custom residential and commercial design-build projects. The firm combines full-service architecture, construction project management, and in-house custom woodworking (cabinets, casework, furniture) into a single cohesive engagement. It also offers TRADE Homes, a pre-designed line of net-zero-ready cabins, cottages, and houses sold as a streamlined alternative to fully custom work.

Product overview

Trade Design Build is a New York-based integrated architecture and construction firm that combines design, construction and woodworking into one cohesive design-build process. The company offers three core services: Architecture Services (feasibility studies through construction documents), Construction Services (project management and fine woodworking), and Woodwork Services (custom furniture and casework fabrication in their woodshop). Additionally, the company offers Trade Homes, a pre-designed line of cabins, cottages, and homes including Adrian (800 SF cottage), Walter (365 SF cabin), Zora (400 SF two-story cabin), Julian (1,805 SF two-story house), Luna (900 SF cottage), and Melia (860 SF two-story cottage). These designs prioritize sustainability with all-electric systems, eastern white cedar siding, and hemp or wood fiber insulation for net zero energy use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TRADE Homes: A line of pre-designed cabins, cottages, and homes offering contemporary design options for clients seeking a streamlined building process. Prioritizes sustainability with all-electric systems for net zero energy use, low-carbon natural products including eastern white cedar siding, hemp or wood fiber insulation, and wood flooring.

Products and services

• Architecture Services
• Construction Services Professional construction services specializing in project management and fine woodworking, ensuring seamless execution from pre-construction through finishing. Provided to residential and commercial clients, often as part of an integrated design-build engagement.
• Woodwork Services Custom furniture and unique woodwork designed and crafted in the firm's in-house woodshop, including reception desks, trim, built-ins, and high-end cabinets. Uses CNC technology and high-end tools to process solid wood and sheet materials. Available to homeowners, businesses, and as part of integrated design-build projects.
• TRADE Homes (Pre-Designed Home Line) Pre-designed line of cabins, cottages, and homes offered as a more streamlined, sustainability-focused alternative to fully custom projects. Prioritizes net-zero energy use via all-electric systems and natural materials including eastern white cedar siding, hemp or wood fiber insulation, and wood flooring.
• Adrian (One-Story Cottage) 800 SF one-story cottage in the TRADE Homes pre-designed line, featuring a full kitchen, bar counter, open living area, single bedroom with built-in closet, full bathroom, and laundry/storage room. Configurable for ADA accessibility.
• Walter (One-Story Cabin) 365 SF one-story cabin within the TRADE Homes pre-designed line.
• Zora (Two-Story Cabin) 400 SF two-story cabin with a 14' x 22' footprint, lower-level open living area with kitchenette and full bathroom, and an upper-level sleeping loft with built-in closet.
• Julian (Two-Story House) 1,805 SF two-story home with foyer, open living and dining areas, alcove kitchen with walk-in pantry, two standard bedrooms, a primary bedroom with ensuite bathroom, and a lofted lounge space.
• Luna (One-Story Cottage) 900 SF one-story cottage composed of 14' x 40' and 14' x 22' modules connected by a glassy foyer, with an open living and kitchen area, bathroom, bedroom, and a large bedroom module.
• Melia (Two-Story Cottage) 860 SF two-story cottage with an eat-in kitchen, powder room, two-story lofted living room, office space, and bedroom with ensuite bathroom and built-in closet storage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects with net zero energy use when combined with solar panels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dailey Electric, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDailey Electric serves as geothermal energy specialists collaborating with Trade Design Build on sustainable home projects. They provide geothermal heat pump installation and expertise for net zero home implementations, including the Treman House project where they handled logistics between Trade and other partners to achieve client's sustainability goals.
• Tom Johnson (Designer)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with visionary designer Tom Johnson on the Hillick & Hobbs winery tasting room conversion. Johnson provided overall design vision while Trade executed construction and translated his vision into built form, including Japanese and Scandinavian influenced details.
• Buried Acorn BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSatellite taproom partner at Stone Bend Farm Greenhouse project. Buried Acorn Brewery planned to open a satellite taproom at the greenhouse location in summer 2021, creating a collaborative agritourism destination.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Method Architecture: Texas-based firm providing integrated architecture, interiors, and design-build services for residential and small commercial clients. Comparable as a mid-sized integrated design-build practice with similar project types.
• Wheeler Kearns Architects: Chicago architecture firm with a design-build arm and deep custom residential and small commercial portfolio. Comparable to Trade Design Build in scope of integrated design-build, custom residential focus, and craft-driven material sensibility.
• Bucken Architecture & Construction: Custom residential design-build firm in California delivering architect-designed homes with in-house construction. Comparable to Trade Design Build's integrated delivery model and custom home focus.
• Go Logic: Maine-based firm specializing in Passive House and net zero design-build. Comparable in its integrated approach and sustainability-led value proposition, though serving a different region.
• Hammer & Hand: Pacific Northwest design-build firm specializing in high-performance, sustainable, and Passive House construction. Comparable to Trade Design Build's deep expertise in net zero, geothermal, and natural-material construction.
• Post Company: Design-build practice working across architecture, interiors, and custom fabrication for hospitality and residential clients. Comparable because it blends design, build, and bespoke fabrication in a single studio, similar to Trade Design Build's integrated model.
• Birdseye Design: Vermont-based architecture and construction firm offering integrated design-build with a focus on craft, modern residential, and small commercial work. Directly comparable as a regional integrated design-build studio with similar size and sustainability sensibility.

Broad incumbents

• Lake|Flato Architects: Texas-based integrated design firm known for sustainability-driven residential and commercial architecture. Comparable to Trade Design Build's sustainability focus and full-service design-build delivery, but at a much larger scale and broader regional footprint.

Regional players

• John V. McLain Construction & Co. Northeast US custom builder focused on high-end residential design-build with in-house carpentry. Comparable to Trade Design Build's in-house woodwork advantage and custom residential concentration.
• BlackBird Builders: Custom design-build firm in the Hudson Valley/New York region serving similar high-end residential and small commercial clients. Comparable as a regional peer serving affluent Northeast homeowners with integrated design-build services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Trade Design Build