A-1 Builders
A1DesignBuild is a worker-owned design-build cooperative in Bellingham, WA, serving Whatcom County homeowners with high-performance new construction, remodels, aging-in-place adaptations, ADU design, and a new maintenance division.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersBellingham, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What A-1 Builders does
A-1 Builders, doing business as A1DesignBuild, is a worker-owned residential design-build cooperative headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, serving homeowners in Whatcom County for over 75 years. The firm combines architectural and interior design services with a full-service construction team, specializing in high-performance, energy-efficient homes built to Passive House and Net Zero standards using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), heat-recovery ventilators (Zehnder), rooftop solar, high thermal mass wall assemblies, and curated non-toxic materials such as cork, linoleum, lime plaster, and PaperStone. Beyond new construction, the company delivers kitchen and bath remodels, additions, deep energy retrofits, aging-in-place and universal design adaptations (CAPS-certified), ADU design and permitting, and building performance testing. In late 2025 it expanded into a Home Maintenance & Repair Division and launched The San Juan Collection — three pre-designed high-performance home plan sets (The Matia, The Shaw, The San Juan) sold online for $1,495 each with a 2-hour designer consultation.
The company's revenue model is project-based, with most work delivered through quote-based custom construction, remodeling, and ADU services, supplemented by a small transactional e-commerce channel for plan sets and a new maintenance/repair service line. Go-to-market is sales-led and locally focused, combining direct homeowner engagement, content marketing (blog, YouTube, twice-monthly newsletter, High Performance Homes magazine), and community-oriented brand building through the A1andALL nonprofit, which channels 10% of annual net income into local causes. The cooperative structure (in place since 2017) means employee-members share governance and profits after a three-year tenure, reinforcing labor retention and brand authenticity in a tight regional labor market. Geographic footprint is intentionally narrow — single county, single state — and there is no disclosed external equity, debt funding, or parent company.
A-1 Builders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- A-1 Builders
- Legal name
- A1DesignBuild
- Website
- https://a1designbuild.coop
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- A1DesignBuild is a worker-owned design-build cooperative in Bellingham, WA, serving Whatcom County homeowners with high-performance new construction, remodels, aging-in-place adaptations, ADU design, and a new maintenance division.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
A-1 Builders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Residential Construction
- NAICS
- New Single-Family Housing Construction (except For-Sale Builders) (236115), Residential Remodelers (236118)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Detached ADU (Backyard Cottage) Construction (HSAPAMAA)
Keywords
Where A-1 Builders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bellingham
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
A-1 Builders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Custom Home Construction: Full-service custom home building combining architectural design with construction for high-performance, Net Zero, and Passive House certified buildings in Whatcom County.
- Home Remodeling Services: Kitchen and bath remodels, additions, historically accurate renovations, deep energy retrofits, and building envelope upgrades.
- Home Maintenance & Repair Division: Newly launched division offering door/window repairs, siding repairs, rot repair, plumbing/electrical adaptations, grab bar installations, deck repairs, roof repairs, and more.
- Pre-Designed Home Plan Sets: Sale of high-performance home plan sets including The Matia, The Shaw, and The San Juan. Each plan set includes comprehensive floor plans, elevations, cross-sections, and 2-hour designer consultation.
- ADU Design and Permitting Services: Accessory Dwelling Unit design and permitting specialist services for homeowners looking to add secondary housing units.
- Design Services: Responsible and sustainable architecture and interior design services, building performance testing and analysis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Matia - 830 sq ft, 2 Bed, 1.5 Bath, Single Story |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Shaw - 840 sq ft, 1 Bed, 1.5 Bath, Two Stories |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The San Juan - 1,580 sq ft, 3 Bed, 2 Bath, Single Story |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
A-1 Builders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
A1DesignBuild is a worker-owned cooperative that provides integrated architectural design and full-service construction for high-performance homes in Whatcom County, Washington. The company builds new custom homes (including Passive House and Net Zero certified), remodels existing homes, designs ADUs, and sells pre-designed home plan sets through an online store. It also operates a Home Maintenance & Repair Division for ongoing residential services.
Product overview
A1DesignBuild is a worker-owned cooperative home builder serving Whatcom County, Washington for over 75 years. The company operates as a custom home company combining high-performance architectural and interior design with a full-service construction team. Their core offerings include new high-performance home construction (including Passive House and Net Zero homes), home remodels, and the San Juan Collection—a series of three pre-designed high-performance home plan sets (The Matia, The San Juan, and The Shaw). Additional services include aging-in-place solutions, ADU design and permitting, building performance testing, and a new Home Maintenance & Repair Division. The company also operates A1andALL, a nonprofit extension that allocates 10% of annual net income to community charitable initiatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- High Performance Home Design & Building Integrated architectural design and construction services for new custom high-performance homes including Passive House and Net Zero certified buildings, serving homeowners in Bellingham and Whatcom County, WA.
- Home Remodels
Quantifiable outcome
- SIPs can reduce energy use for heating and cooling by 50-60% compared to conventional framing
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use A-1 Builders
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
A-1 Builders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
A-1 Builders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Western Washington University Institute for Energy StudiescoreCollaborative partnership on Project ZeNETH, a Net Zero Energy Tiny House developed through collaboration between WWU students studying energy and A1DesignBuild builders. The project became a referendum on the future of housing in Whatcom County, with students who worked on the project going on to careers in sustainable housing and permanently affordable development.
- Whatcom Million TreescoreGreat partnership resulting in collaboration to build the Planted Forest teaching kiosk. A continuing partnership focused on environmental restoration and tree planting initiatives in Whatcom County.
- Bellingham Public Schools FoundationmajorA1andALL fundraising effort to support students whose parents have been detained by ICE. Funds provide school supplies, counseling, transportation, and academic support for affected children.
- Whatcom Youth PridemajorA1andALL supports Whatcom Youth Pride's annual parade and festival, raising money to pay for performers, face painters, and glitter artists for the community event.
- Birchwood Food Desert FightersmajorPartnership to address food insecurity in Birchwood neighborhood. A1andALL has donated food pantry boxes throughout the community and is working on replacing damaged boxes with new metal designs.
- Road2HomemajorPartnership with Road2Home, an organization dedicated to helping provide homes for everyone in Whatcom County. Supports their mission of housing people experiencing homelessness through donations and community engagement.
- Alderwood Elementary SchoolminorCommunity project designing and building a school garden to help students learn about the planet and environmental stewardship.
- Tierra Y LibertadminorWorker-owned organic farm partnership. Built U-Pick Greenhouse to support sustainable farming practices with fair wages, free of exploitation. Farm produces blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries using organic and sustainable practices.
- Fireclay TileminorCalifornia-based tile company (now with Spokane factory) that produces handmade tiles with a focus on sustainability. They are a B Corporation and 20% worker-owned. Featured as a sustainable materials partner for home surfaces.
- CambriaminorMidwest-based engineered stone company recommended for countertops. They recycle 100% of their water and have programs to support their non-English speaking employees. Featured as a sustainable materials partner.
- Pioneer MillworksminorMcMinnville-based company offering amazing sustainable wood products including reclaimed wood, FSC certified materials, Shou Sugi Ban technique products, and engineered wood flooring. Featured as a sustainable materials partner.
- Zehnder AmericacoreProvider of Zehnder heat-recovery ventilators (HRV) used in A1DesignBuild's high-performance homes. HRVs provide continuous fresh, filtered air while exhausting stale indoor air without losing energy.
Scale indicators5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
A-1 Builders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BPC Green Builders: New Jersey-based design-build firm specializing in net-zero, Passive House, and high-performance custom homes. Comparable in integrated design-build model, sustainability credentialing, and custom high-end client base.
- TC Legend Homes: Pacific Northwest design-builder specializing in Passive House, net-zero, and high-performance residential construction. Closely comparable to A1DesignBuild in target customer, building science approach (SIPs, HRVs, airtight envelopes), and integrated design-build delivery model.
- Hammer & Hand: Pacific Northwest high-performance builder focused on Passive House and deep energy retrofits across Oregon and Washington. Comparable in building-science specialization, integrated design-build approach, and regional sustainability positioning.
- Insight Homes: Delmarva Peninsula builder of net-zero ready and energy-efficient homes, with strong building science and homeowner education programs. Comparable in Net Zero positioning and residential efficiency focus, though at larger production scale.
- Cascade Built: Seattle-based sustainable design-build firm specializing in net-zero, Passive House, and green building practices. Comparable in integrated design-build delivery, sustainability credentials, and Pacific Northwest customer base.
- Green Canopy NODE: Seattle-based sustainable residential developer focused on high-performance, net-zero townhomes and single-family projects. Comparable in sustainability positioning and Pacific Northwest high-performance residential focus.
- PrecisionCraft Homes: Mountain West and national high-performance timber home builder with deep energy efficiency focus. Comparable in productized high-performance plan offerings and integrated design services for performance-oriented buyers.
- Verdate Homes: High-performance home builder offering net-zero and energy-efficient designs in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Comparable in building science expertise and customized high-performance product offering.
Broad incumbents
- David Weekley Homes: Large national production homebuilder increasingly offering Energy Star and high-performance options. Relevant as a broader incumbent illustrating competitive pressure from scaled players entering the high-performance residential space.
Emerging players
- Method Homes: Pacific Northwest modular and prefab builder focused on sustainable, high-performance residential construction. Comparable in PNW presence and sustainability positioning, though using factory-built rather than site-built delivery.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
A-1 Builders social profiles
Digital presenceA-1 Builders compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
A-1 Builders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
A-1 Builders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
A-1 Builders subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
A-1 Builders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
A-1 Builders M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about A-1 Builders
What does A-1 Builders do?
A1DesignBuild is a worker-owned cooperative that provides integrated architectural design and full-service construction for high-performance homes in Whatcom County, Washington. The company builds new custom homes (including Passive House and Net Zero certified), remodels existing homes, designs ADUs, and sells pre-designed home plan sets through an online store. It also operates a Home Maintenance & Repair Division for ongoing residential services.
Is A-1 Builders a public or private company?
A-1 Builders is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was A-1 Builders founded?
A-1 Builders was founded in 1955. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is A-1 Builders based?
A-1 Builders is headquartered in Bellingham, United States, in the North America region.
How does A-1 Builders make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Custom Home Construction is the primary driver. The others are home Remodeling Services, home Maintenance & Repair Division, pre-Designed Home Plan Sets, ADU Design and Permitting Services and design Services.
Who are A-1 Builders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BPC Green Builders, TC Legend Homes, Hammer & Hand, Insight Homes, Cascade Built, Green Canopy NODE, PrecisionCraft Homes and Verdate Homes. David Weekley Homes is listed as a broad incumbent. Method Homes is listed as an emerging player.
Does A-1 Builders have an API?
No public API is recorded for A-1 Builders.
What industry is A-1 Builders in?
A-1 Builders's product category is Residential Construction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFABAE, Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders, with a secondary code of HSAPAMAA, Detached ADU (Backyard Cottage) Construction. Its NAICS code is 236115 and its SIC code is 1520.