# Multiplex Design-Build Toronto | Multiplex Toronto Builders URL: https://multiplextorontobuilders.ca/multiplex-design-build/ ![Architectural drawings on a site table inside a framed Toronto multiplex](/images/misc/architectural-drawings-spread-on-a-site-table-insi.webp) Design \* Build \* Deliver - Design-Build # Multiplex Design-Build in Toronto, ON | For Owners Who Want One Accountable Firm Last updated: October 21, 2026 Feasibility, design, permits and construction under one contract, with one project manager and a fixed price after the written feasibility report. Price band (CAD) $50K-$150K Timeline Feasibility to occupancy typically 11-16 months for a fourplex Built for Owners Who Want One Accountable Firm - One Contract, One PM - Fixed Price After Feasibility - Tarion Coverage Available - Insured & Bonded - 15 Years Toronto ## Request Written Feasibility Zoning check + CAD estimate before any deposit. Thanks, we got your project details. We reply within one business day to book your feasibility review. - ★5-Star Multiplex Construction Rating - ◆15+ Years of Toronto Infill Construction Experience - ◆40+ multiplex projects coordinated - ◆Free in-home feasibility with written zoning verification Multiplex Toronto Builders [/ →](/) runs multiplex design-build across Toronto, East York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York and the GTA, taking triplexes, fourplexes, approved-zone sixplexes and conversions from first zoning check to keys under one contract. One project manager owns feasibility, stamped drawings, permits, Committee of Adjustment work and construction. Each build runs under HCRA registration with Tarion enrolment per project, WSIB and a $5M CGL policy. Scope is written in CAD and checked against the Ontario Building Code, and we coordinate Toronto Building, Toronto Water, Toronto Hydro and your insurer without handing you off between firms. The traditional route leaves gaps. A designer draws a sixplex where only a fourplex is as-of-right, someone confuses severance with multiplex approval, EHON setback math is never tested on a 25-foot lot, or a parking variance is assumed and never filed at the CoA. Then the drawings go out to tender and come back over budget. Design-build closes those gaps. We scope OBC Part 9 or Part 3 by unit count and height, spec insulated glazing to code, use 316 stainless fasteners near the lake, and verify zoning through GeoWarehouse before design starts. The design-build fee runs **$50K-$150K CAD** plus construction, and a fourplex typically goes from feasibility to occupancy in 11-16 months. We work in Toronto, East York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, North York, York, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton and Pickering, with a written workmanship warranty on every project. ![Project manager walkthrough area inside a framed multiplex with drawings pinned to a temporary wall](/images/content/framed-multiplex-interior-with-permit-drawings-pin.webp) Design-build pairs naturally with our architectural design [/multiplex-architectural-design/ →](/multiplex-architectural-design/) , building permits [/multiplex-building-permits/ →](/multiplex-building-permits/) and feasibility assessment [/multiplex-feasibility-assessment/ →](/multiplex-feasibility-assessment/) services, all delivered under the same contract. ## What Our Multiplex Design-Build Covers ### Feasibility and Zoning Review Every design-build project starts with a written feasibility report. We pull the parcel through GeoWarehouse, check permissions under Zoning By-law 569-2013 or the local GTA by-law, run setback, height and coverage math, and screen heritage, trees, ravines and servicing. Where useful, we book a pre-application consultation or Preliminary Project Review with Toronto Building to flag issues early. The report gives you an honest unit count and a CAD budget range before any design fee is spent. ### Design and Stamped Drawings Our design team works with estimators in the room. Concept options are priced as they are drawn, so you can trade a balcony for a bedroom or a stair layout for a larger unit with real numbers in front of you. Once the concept is approved, we produce stamped drawings through a BCIN designer for Part 9 or an OAA architect for Part 3, with structural engineering and SB-12 energy compliance. ### Permits and CoA Coordination We assemble and submit the permit set, track examiner comments and respond quickly, which avoids the resubmission loops that add weeks. If a minor variance is needed, we file at the Committee of Adjustment, handle neighbour notice and represent you at the hearing. Utility applications to Toronto Water and Toronto Hydro go in alongside the permit so they do not hold up occupancy later. ### Construction and Site Management With permits in hand, construction starts under a fixed-price contract with a clear draw schedule. Our PM manages trades, inspections, deliveries and neighbour relations. Allowances for fixtures and finishes are listed up front, and any change order is priced before the work happens. Weekly updates with photos keep you informed whether you live down the street or out of province. ### Closeout, Occupancy and Tarion PDI Closeout includes final inspections, occupancy for each unit, as-built documents, warranty information and the Tarion pre-delivery inspection, where any deficiencies are logged and scheduled for repair. You get the keys to a building that is legal, inspected and ready to rent or move into. ## Common Design-Build Problems in Toronto ### Architect Drawings That No Builder Can Price **Symptom:** You paid for a full set of drawings, and every builder quote comes back far above what you planned. **Immediate action:** Have a builder review the drawings for cost and buildability before you go back to the architect. **Scope:** Drawings made without pricing input often include complex rooflines, oversized glazing, structural steel or Part 3 triggers that nobody costed. **Qualified contractor response:** We review the set line by line, show where the cost is coming from and propose design changes that keep the unit count while bringing the price down. Often the fix is simpler stairs, stacked plumbing walls and standard window sizes. Our Thornhill client went from an unfinanceable design to four units the bank approved. ### Change Orders Blow the Budget After Permit **Symptom:** Construction starts, and within weeks the change orders pile up: structural fixes, missed details, finishes that were never specified. **Immediate action:** Ask for a list of allowances and exclusions in your contract. **Scope:** Change orders usually come from incomplete drawings or vague scopes, not from owner requests. **Qualified contractor response:** Because we design and build, the drawings are detailed for construction, not just for permit. Allowances are listed with dollar amounts, exclusions are written down, and any change you ask for is priced before work proceeds. ### Nobody Owns the Schedule Between Design and Build **Symptom:** The architect says it is a builder issue, the builder says it is a drawing issue, and your loan interest keeps running. **Immediate action:** Ask who is responsible for the overall schedule in your contract. **Scope:** In design-bid-build, nobody is formally on the hook for the gap between design and construction. **Qualified contractor response:** In design-build, one PM owns the whole timeline. Zoning review, pricing, long-lead orders and utility applications start while design is still being finalized, which typically saves months on a fourplex. ### Owner Selections Arrive Late and Stall the Schedule **Symptom:** Construction is moving well until finishes, then the site waits for decisions on tile, fixtures, cabinets and flooring. **Immediate action:** Ask for a selections schedule with dates, tied to the construction timeline. **Scope:** Late owner selections are one of the most common causes of delay on any build. Trades cannot start, orders slip and the occupancy date moves. On a design-build project, the schedule is only as good as the decisions that feed it. **Qualified contractor response:** We issue a selections schedule at contract signing, with allowance amounts and deadlines for each item. Your project manager reminds you ahead of each deadline, and we offer a short list of tested options within each allowance for owners who want quick decisions. Long-lead items such as windows and some fixtures are ordered during design, before construction even starts. The result is a finishes stage that runs on time, so the building reaches occupancy when your lender and future tenants expect it to, without the expensive idle weeks that late decisions create. Why Owners Pick Us ## Why Choose Multiplex Toronto Builders for Design-Build? Six things we do on every project, written into the scope before you sign anything. ### Design Priced as It Is Drawn Our estimators sit in the design meetings. Every layout change comes with a cost impact, so you never end up with drawings nobody can afford to build. ### Fixed Price After Feasibility Once the written feasibility and design scope are settled, construction is priced as a fixed contract with allowances listed separately. No cost-plus surprises. ### One PM From First Call to Keys The same project manager runs feasibility, design, permits and construction. Nothing falls between the architect and the builder because they are the same team. ### Permits and CoA In-House We prepare the permit set, answer examiner comments and file Committee of Adjustment variances ourselves, with 40+ applications across Toronto panels since 2019. ### Overlap Saves Months Zoning review, pricing and long-lead orders start while design is still underway. A typical fourplex goes from feasibility to occupancy in 11-16 months. ### You Approve Every Stage Concept, design development, permit set and finishes each need your sign-off. Design-build gives you one point of contact, not less control. Execution Roadmap ## How Does Design-Build Work With Us? Four steps from the first zoning check to keys. Typical timeline: Feasibility to occupancy typically 11-16 months for a fourplex. 1. 1 ### Step 1: Feasibility & Zoning Review GeoWarehouse zoning pull, unit-count test, servicing and heritage screen, and a written CAD budget range in 1-2 weeks. 2. 2 ### Step 2: Design & Stamped Drawings Concept options, design development priced as we go, then stamped BCIN or OAA drawings and SB-12 energy compliance. 3. 3 ### Step 3: Permits & Fixed Contract Permit set, examiner responses, CoA if needed, Tarion enrolment and a fixed-price construction contract with draw schedule. 4. 4 ### Step 4: Construction & Closeout Site management, inspections, occupancy and the Tarion pre-delivery inspection, run by the same PM. Published CAD Pricing ## How Much Does Multiplex Design-Build Cost? Design-build has two parts. The **design-build fee runs $50K-$150K CAD** and covers feasibility, design, stamped drawings, permit coordination and project management. **Construction is priced separately** using our published bands: - Triplex: $400K-$1.1M - Fourplex: $500K-$1.4M - Sixplex in approved zones: $800K-$2M - House-to-multiplex conversion: $250K-$900K - Additions: rear $180K-$400K, side $220K-$600K Compared with hiring an architect and then tendering to builders, design-build usually costs about the same in fees but saves money in two places: fewer change orders after permit, and fewer months of carrying cost because design and pricing overlap. Payments follow a deposit and a milestone draw schedule tied to inspections, which lines up with how construction lenders release funds. | Unit Type | Price (CAD) | Project | Timeline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Triplex New Build | $400K-$1.1M | 3 units, Part 9 | 8-10 months | | Fourplex New Build | $500K-$1.4M | 4 units, as-of-right citywide | 9-12 months | | Sixplex (Approved Zones) | $800K-$2M | 6 units, Part 3 likely | 12-16 months | | House-to-Multiplex Conversion | $250K-$900K | 2-4 units in existing house | 6-9 months | | Architectural Design (Stamped) | $15K-$60K | Permit drawing set | 6-10 weeks | | Permit Coordination | $5K-$18K | Toronto Building + CoA | 9-14 weeks | | Feasibility Assessment | $1,500-$4,500 | Written zoning + budget report | 1-2 weeks | Priced design-build fee plus construction cost. Straight Answer ## Don't I Lose Control if One Firm Designs and Builds? No, you gain a single point of accountability. In our opinion, the bigger loss of control happens in the traditional route, when an architect's drawings come back over budget and you are stuck choosing between redesign fees and a project you cannot afford. With design-build, you still approve the concept, the design development, the permit drawings and every finish. You can ask for changes at any stage. The difference is that each change comes with a price and a schedule impact before you decide, not after. If you already have an architect you trust, that works too. We can price and build from their drawings, or take over a partly finished design. The design-build vs design-bid-build guide [/guide/design-build-vs-design-bid-build-multiplex/ →](/guide/design-build-vs-design-bid-build-multiplex/) lays out when each route makes sense. Our Work ## Design-Build Project Photos Finished exteriors, interiors and site stages from Toronto and GTA projects. Click any photo to enlarge. ![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACw=) Client Feedback ## What Owners Say About Our Design-Build > "On our 25 foot Danforth Village lot they showed us a triplex beat a fourplex that needed two variances. One contract from design to keys, fixed price, done in 10 months." Sofia V., Danforth Village Design-build triplex > "We'd already paid an architect for drawings that came back way over budget. They reworked the design with pricing at every meeting and we ended up with four units we could actually finance." Peter S., Thornhill Design-build fourplex > "Having one person who knew the drawings, the permit and the site was the whole point for us. When the city asked for changes, it was handled in days not weeks." Leah M., Leslieville Design-build conversion Guides ## Design-Build Guides Plain-language answers to the questions owners ask before they commit. Each guide links back here when you are ready for numbers. Design-Build vs Design-Bid-Build for Multiplex ProjectsDecision guide [/guide/design-build-vs-design-bid-build-multiplex/ →](/guide/design-build-vs-design-bid-build-multiplex/) What to Expect in a Fixed-Price Multiplex Design-Build ContractDecision guide [/guide/fixed-price-multiplex-design-build-contract/ →](/guide/fixed-price-multiplex-design-build-contract/) Browse all multiplex guides [/guide/ →](/guide/) Toronto Zoning FAQs ## Design-Build FAQs ### What does multiplex design-build cost? The design-build fee typically runs $50K-$150K CAD, covering feasibility, design, stamped drawings, permits and project management. Construction is priced separately, for example $500K-$1.4M for a fourplex, and fixed after feasibility. ### How is design-build different from hiring an architect? With an architect, you design first and then tender to builders, which can produce drawings that cost more than planned. In design-build, one firm designs and prices at the same time and delivers construction under one contract and one PM. ### Is the construction price fixed? Yes, after the written feasibility and design scope. The contract lists fixed items and allowances separately, and changes you request are priced before they happen. ### Who manages permits in design-build? We do. We prepare the permit set, respond to examiner comments, file any Committee of Adjustment variance and book inspections through to occupancy. ### Can I bring my own architect? Yes. We can build from your architect's drawings, review them for cost and buildability, or take over a partly finished design. Many owners come to us after a design came in over budget. ### How long does design-build take? For a fourplex, typically 11-16 months from feasibility to occupancy: 1-2 weeks of feasibility, 6-10 weeks of design, 9-14 weeks of permits and 9-12 months of construction, with some overlap. ### Do you do design-build in Markham and Richmond Hill? Yes. We deliver design-build across the GTA. EHON does not apply in Markham or Richmond Hill, so we design to each city's own additional residential unit or secondary suite rules. ### What happens if the city asks for changes? We handle examiner comments and resubmissions as part of the design-build fee. If a change affects cost, you see the price before we proceed. Related Services ## Related Multiplex Services ### Multiplex Construction Ground-up triplex, fourplex and approved-zone sixplex builds on Toronto infill lots, scoped to OBC Part 9 or Part 3 by unit count and height. $400K-$2M View multiplex construction [Multiplex Construction →](/multiplex-construction/) ### Architectural Design Concept, zoning review, BCIN or OAA stamped permit drawings, structural and MEP coordination and SB-12 energy compliance. $15K-$60K View architectural design [Architectural Design →](/multiplex-architectural-design/) ### Building Permits Zoning certificates, permit applications, CoA minor variances with hearing representation, utility and right-of-way permits, and inspections. $5,000-$18K View building permits [Building Permits →](/multiplex-building-permits/) ### Feasibility Assessment Written report in 1-2 weeks: GeoWarehouse zoning pull, unit-count test, servicing check, heritage and tree screen and a CAD budget range. $1,500-$4,500 View feasibility assessment [Feasibility Assessment →](/multiplex-feasibility-assessment/) ![](/images/misc/finished-brick-and-oak-toronto-multiplex-exterior-.webp) Start With Certainty ## Get a Fixed Number for Your Design-Build Send us your address and we come back with a zoning read, an honest unit count and a CAD budget range in writing, before you spend on drawings. Get a Written Feasibility Assessment [/contact/ →](/contact/) See All Services [/services/ →](/services/) - Written zoning verification - CAD price bands before deposit - Licensed Ontario Builder, Insured & Bonded