Prairie Electric’s design-build approach eliminates the disconnect between design and construction by combining both under one roof. The result? Smoother project execution, fewer change orders, and a significantly reduced risk of cost overruns.
What Is Electrical Design-Build?
Electrical design-build is a project delivery method where the electrical contractor handles both the design and construction of electrical systems. Rather than separating responsibilities between an engineer and a contractor, design-build consolidates communication and responsibility into a single team. That team at Prairie Electric includes estimators, project managers, CAD/BIM experts, and licensed electricians, each collaborating from the very first meeting.
This method allows for smarter planning, better coordination, and faster problem-solving. When the people designing your electrical system are the same people who will install it, nothing is lost in translation. That kind of continuity is essential on complex jobs like high schools, industrial facilities, and mixed-use buildings.
Why Developers and General Contractors Choose Prairie Electric
With decades of experience in the Pacific Northwest, Prairie Electric has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality electrical solutions on some of the region’s largest and most complex projects. From Ridgefield to Portland to Pasco, we’ve partnered with developers, general contractors, and architects to build systems that are safe, scalable, and code-compliant.
When you choose Prairie for an electrical design-build project, you’re getting more than just installation. You’re getting early-phase insight into constructability, cost control, and system integration. We identify potential conflicts before construction begins, helping you stay on schedule and within budget.
The Benefits of Design-Build
Why is design-build gaining traction in the electrical world?
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Speed: With overlapping design and construction timelines, projects move faster.
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Cost Control: Fewer change orders mean fewer surprises. Early budgeting is more accurate.
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Collaboration: Everyone is on the same page from day one including the engineers, estimators, and field crews.
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Flexibility: Changes in scope can be handled in-house without delay.
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Quality Assurance: The same team is responsible for both the planning and the outcome, narrowing any margin for error.
Design-Build in Action
Prairie Electric has completed electrical design-builds for:
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Lincoln High School (Portland, OR): A 300,000-square-foot, multi-phase construction project requiring BIM coordination, AV systems, security, and more.
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Reser Fine Foods (Hillsboro, OR): A manufacturing and distribution facility featuring full process control, telecom/data, and integrated fire and security systems.
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550 MLK (Portland, OR): A seven-story, 132-unit mixed-use building with complete building electrical, security, and communication systems.
What Makes Prairie Different?
Design-build means we can offer early involvement, proactive communication, and deliver work that meets our own high standards. We’ve built our internal teams to handle everything from BIM modeling to pre-fabrication, reducing the risk of miscommunication and driving efficiency on every project.
Because we’ve worked on everything from high schools to distribution centers, we know how to scale and adapt our approach based on your project’s unique demands.
If you’re considering a new commercial build, tenant improvement, or large-scale renovation, now is the time to bring Prairie Electric into the conversation. Our design-build team is ready to collaborate with your architects and general contractor to create electrical systems that are smart, efficient, and built for the future.
Ready to simplify your next project? Contact Prairie Electric today to start the conversation with our design-build team.
