Home is sacred.

It’s where you eat, sleep, rest and reset.

It’s the foundation of a family. It’s a place to gather. It’s a shelter in times of trouble. It’s the constant in a changing world and a springboard for life.

From time to time, it needs something new. A fresh perspective. An update.
A reset.

Elevate Design Build exists to bring your vision of a better life and an improved home to reality within the timeframe and budget you have.

You are the hero of building the story of your legacy. We are here to help you conquer the complexity of its plot.

Portfolio

About Elevate Design | Build

What we do

Elevate Design | Build is a San Francisco Bay Area architectural design and construction company based in Walnut Creek, California. We tend to specialize in residential remodels and additions, custom homes, and landscapes, from design through construction.

We concentrate our work in the rolling hills and urban villages of the 24 and 680 corridors of the East Bay, including the following cities: Walnut Creek, Danville, Alamo, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Livermore, Concord, Martinez, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, Oakland, Berkeley, Piedmont, and beyond.

We are licensed, bonded, and insured general contractors.

What is Design | Build?

Design | Build is a process by which a single firm enters into a contractual relationship with a client, providing architectural design and construction services from beginning to end.

We believe the design/build process gives our clients the best possible outcome for their project by building a trusting relationship and a singular vision, while maintaining seamless communication from design through construction.

A Passion for Architecture

Our passion for architecture is rooted in highly thoughtful, creative and timeless, contextual design, balanced carefully with the unique and diverse personalities and visions of our clients. We care deeply about good architecture and design.

A Passion for Construction

Our passion for construction derives from the strong desire to see a project through to the end. With the proper skills and experience, there is no better entity to carry out a design vision than a master builder, historically referred to as the head of a construction project, particularly in the pre-modern era. They were essentially a combination of architect, engineer, and skilled craftsman, responsible for design, materials selection, and the overall execution of a building project.

Elevate Design | Build is a modern-day master builder. We care deeply about proper construction management, which includes a sensible plan for making material choices, a reasonable schedule, and clear communication.

The Elevate Team

Justin Hanson Founder and President

Justin grew up designing and building homes with his father, so he went off to architecture school. He then practiced architecture for 13 years after graduating from Montana State University with a master’s degree in architecture. Throughout his early career as a designer and project manager, Justin witnessed the complexity, the tension, and the disconnect between the architect and the contractor. Having a well-rounded experience in both fields and a passion to see his client's dreams of building come to life, he decided to bring the practice of architecture and construction together under one roof. Justin and his wife have 4 grown children, all living and working in the Bay Area.

Dennis Freeman Construction Manager

Dennis has over 30 years of woodworking experience. At a young age Dennis had a passion for building. In high school he won the Bank of America Achievement Award for Applied Arts as well as Best of Schools at the county fair two years in a row with a custom-built coffee table and kitchen table. This turned into a career in custom cabinetry and woodworking where he owned his own business for over twenty years designing and building custom wood products. Here at Elevate, Dennis brings his years of cabinet building and customer service to his role of a detailed construction manager. Dennis and his wife have three grown children.

Vickie Polyzos Accounting Manager

Vickie has many behind-the-scenes roles assisting Justin and Dennis with construction management, administration and accounting, and business development. Vickie has over 20 years of construction industry experience and she keeps us organized on top of the daily details of running a business. She and her husband have their hands full with two young boys at home.

Mary Runyon Marketing Manager

Mary is responsible for marketing, photography, and web site development, as well as executive assistance. She has many years of experience in high level design, assisting executive producers, and marketing while working at Pixar. She works remotely most days while raising her growing family of four children and a husband.

Elevate's Design | Build Process

Design-Bid-Build

Approach

This approach is typically good for larger projects without a defined scope of work and projects that need creative design beyond finishes.

Here’s how it works:

First meeting
Submit Design proposal
Sign Design contract
Design drawings
- Explore ideas and options
- Meet to review drawings
- Target client budget
Permit drawings
- Include architectural, structural, energy
- Submit drawings for permits
Bidding
- Solicit bids from subcontractors
- Assemble a full scope of work
Sign Construction contract
Construction
- Pull necessary building permits
- Break ground and begin weekly meetings
- Begin design selection process
Move in when complete

Bid-Design-Build

Approach

This approach is typically good for smaller projects with a defined scope of work and only a few variables.

Here’s how it works:

First meeting
Bid proposal based on defined scope of work
Sign Construction contract (includes design)
Design drawings
- Meet to review drawings
- Target bid proposal
Permit drawings
- Include architectural, structural, energy
- Submit drawings for permits
Construction
- Pull necessary building permits
- Break ground and begin weekly meetings
- Begin design selection process
Move in when complete!

Build-Design

Approach

This approach is not recommended! But it’s amazing how many projects we’ve seen get rebuilt because of poor design or poor planning. We avoid this approach at Elevate!