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Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh Architecture & Engineering

TCG provides in-house architectural design, structural engineering, and MEP engineering licensed in all 50 states. Single-source design-build for the Triangle, with no handoff gaps between design and construction.

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Architecture & Engineering

Integrated Architecture & Engineering in the Triangle

Most contractors hand design to an outside firm and inherit the coordination gaps. TCG runs architecture, structural engineering, and MEP engineering in-house, all licensed in NC, so design intent and constructability are reconciled before drawings are finished.

That integration is the core of design-build. Paired with preconstruction and value engineering, it delivers NC-code-compliant design that is priced and buildable, and it compresses the overall schedule by 15 to 30 percent versus design-bid-build.

Scope

What Our A&E Team Delivers

Architectural Design

Full architectural design from programming through construction documents, NC code-compliant.

Structural Engineering

Foundations and structure designed for Piedmont soils and Triangle wind loads.

MEP Engineering

Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design coordinated with the build team.

Preconstruction & VE

Budgeting, value engineering, and constructability reviews from concept.

Permitting & NC Code

Design to NC State Building Code and coordination with Wake County and city offices.

Design-Build Integration

One team and one contract across design and construction, with no handoff gaps.

Cost Guide

Architecture & Engineering Fees in the Triangle

A and E fees are typically a percentage of construction value, not a price per square foot. Design-build bundles these into one contract. Ranges below are typical of commercial work.

Architecture

4 - 8%

Of construction value, by complexity

MEP Engineering

2 - 5%

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing design

Structural

1 - 3%

Foundations and structural design

Total A/E + Soft Costs

8 - 15%

Bundled in design-build delivery

Design-Build

Integrated Design-Build Delivery

Architecture, structural, and MEP under one contract, reconciling design intent and constructability before drawings finish and cutting schedule by 15 to 30 percent. See how design-build works.

Design and Build With One Team

In-house architecture and engineering, licensed in NC, delivered as design-build. Building in Charlotte as well? See our Charlotte architecture and engineering.

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FAQ

Architecture & Engineering FAQ

What is design-build?
Design-build combines architecture, engineering, and construction under a single contract. Overlapping design and construction delivers projects 15 to 30 percent faster with fewer change orders.
How are architecture and engineering fees structured?
A and E fees are usually a percentage of construction value, commonly 8 to 15 percent combined for commercial work. In design-build, those services are bundled into one contract. See our guide to A and E fees and soft costs.
Is your design team licensed in North Carolina?
Yes. TCG provides architecture and engineering licensed in all 50 states, including NC, and we design to the NC State Building Code.
Why is in-house A and E better than outsourcing?
In-house architecture, structural, and MEP reconcile design intent with constructability and budget before drawings finish, which removes the coordination gaps that cause change orders.
Do you design for Piedmont soils?
Yes. Our structural engineers design foundations for Piedmont residual soils, expansive red clay, and shallow rock common in Wake and Durham counties.
Can you bid from our existing plans?
Yes. We work from owner-provided drawings as a general contractor and also provide full in-house design when you need it.

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Terrapin Construction Group · 509 W North St Suite 224, Raleigh NC 27603 · (720) 593-0169 · Schedule a call · info@terrapincg.com