Choosing a commercial contractor is one of the highest-stakes decisions you’ll make for your business. The wrong choice costs you time, money, and sleep. The right one makes the whole process feel manageable.
Here’s why businesses use (and refer) Summit for commercial contracting.
- 20 years in business
- $1 billion in completed projects
- Offices in Chicago and Austin
- Hundreds of completed commercial builds
You’ve Probably Heard These Promises Before.
Words are easy.
Every contractor says they’ll deliver on time and on budget. Every contractor says you’ll have a dedicated point of contact. Every contractor says communication won’t be a problem.
And then the project starts.
- The budget you agreed to grows with every change order.
- The senior rep who closed the deal is replaced by someone who’s never met you.
- Your calls go unreturned for days.
- Your opening date slips with no explanation and no urgency from the people responsible.
If you’ve been through that before, you know exactly how expensive it gets. And we know why you’re being careful this time.
What Matters Is Actions and Solutions
We didn’t set out to be the biggest commercial contractor in Chicago or Austin. We set out to be the one clients actually trust, and come back to.
Since 2005, Summit has operated by a simple standard: tell clients the truth before construction begins, stay reachable throughout the build, and treat every project like our reputation depends on it.
Because it does.
“Summit brings solutions and suggestions when problems arise.”
— WeWork Chicago
The Credentials That Back It Up
Summit has earned recognition in two of the most competitive commercial construction markets in the country.
- Named among Chicago’s Top General Contractors by The Real Deal
- Recognized as an ENR Southeast Top Contractor
- $1 billion in cumulative revenue reached in 2022
- 20 years of completed projects across Chicago, Austin, Tampa, and Charlotte
- Active in nearly every commercial sector
What those numbers mean for you: you’re not hiring a contractor still figuring things out. You’re hiring a team that has seen every kind of project, every kind of problem, and has a track record of resolving both.
What Summit Does Differently
One Project Manager. Assigned at the Start. There at Closeout.
Not a handoff. Not a rotating crew. One experienced professional who knows your project inside and out, is reachable when you need them, and stays with you from kickoff to keys.
“The team managed our expectations well throughout the entire process.”
— Method Products, Project Management Director
Honest Budgets Before Anything Is Built
Summit’s preconstruction process is rigorous by design. We surface the hard conversations before construction begins. Our budgets are detailed, realistic, and built to hold. When changes do occur, they’re documented in a formal change order before any additional work is performed. No surprises buried in the final invoice.
Real-Time Visibility Into Your Project
You shouldn’t have to wait for a weekly update to know what’s happening on your job site. Every Summit client gets direct access to their project through Procore — live progress, documentation, and communications, all in one place.
Senior Leadership That Stays Involved
Summit’s management team doesn’t disappear after the contract is signed. They stay engaged and accessible throughout the build. The people you talked to before you signed are the same people you’ll hear from when it matters most.
20 Years of Subcontractor Relationships
In Chicago and Austin, Summit has spent two decades building trade relationships that benefit every client we work with. That means competitive pricing, reliable crews, and accountability that runs all the way down the chain.
What You Get When You Work With Summit
Estimates Built On Real Cost Data
Our preconstruction team has priced hundreds of projects across Chicago and Austin, so your budget reflects what things actually cost, instead of a rough guess with room to grow.
A Preconstruction Process That Catches Problems Early
We stress-test the plan before a single wall goes up, so the hard conversations happen on paper, not mid-build.
One Project Manager, Start to Finish
The person you meet at kickoff is the same person who walks you through closeout, with real-time visibility into your job through Procore the whole way.
Experience With The Builds Other Contractors Turn Down
From adaptive reuse landmarks like City Winery Chicago to specialized manufacturing facilities, we’ve handled the complicated jobs most GCs pass on.
Trade Relationships That Solve Problems Fast
Two decades of subcontractor relationships in Chicago and Austin mean we can pull in the right crew and find a workaround before it becomes a delay.
Value Engineering That Protects Quality, Not Just Cost
We look for smarter ways to build without cutting what matters to you: savings shouldn’t come at the expense of the finished product.
What Clients Say
“"Our newly constructed production machining facility is amazing. All of our employees are excited to come to work in the new space. A great project completed by the Summit team and its associates."”
Summit ClientProduction Machining Facility
“"Summit completed our project on time, on budget, and on strategy. The team managed our expectations well throughout the entire process."”
Method ProductsProject Management Director
“"Summit completed our project on time, on budget, and on strategy. Time and cost was quantified and the team managed our expectations well."”
Summit Client
Two Cities. One Standard.
Summit operates out of two offices, each staffed with people who know their market because they’ve spent years building in it.
We’re not a national firm learning your city on your dime. We know these markets because we built our reputation in them.
Chicago, IL
Our founding home. Twenty years of projects across Fulton Market, the Loop, Lincoln Park, and beyond: office, industrial, hospitality, retail, healthcare, adaptive reuse, and more.
1036 W Fulton Market Suite 500
Chicago, IL 60607
312-229-4630
Austin, TX
Serving one of the fastest-growing commercial markets in the country with the same standards that built our name in Chicago.
4201 S Congress Ave, Suite 106
Austin, TX 78745
312-229-4619
The People Behind Your Project
When you hire Summit, you get direct access to experienced leaders who’ve spent decades solving the exact problems your project will face.
Adam founded Summit in 2005 and has since grown it into one of Chicago's premier general contractors. His approach is straightforward: focus on the details that keep clients from losing sleep: uncovering cost savings, expediting schedules, and building relationships that last beyond a single project. Over a 24-year career, Adam has overseen more than 400 projects totaling over 12 million square feet and $600 million in completed work.
Kevin has been with Summit since 2015 and oversees all preconstruction and estimating phases, as well as the teams that support them. A disciplined problem-solver by nature, Kevin approaches every challenge with care and an eye toward the bigger picture, which means fewer surprises for you when it counts most.
An Award-Winning Builder That Developers Trust to Deliver
When you’re putting capital and reputation on the line, you need a contractor with a proven track record. Summit Design & Build has been recognized by the industry’s most respected voices for over a decade.
- ENR Midwest Top Contractor — 11 consecutive years (2015–2025)
- ENR Texas & Southeast Top Contractor — 7 consecutive years (2019–2025)
- Crain’s Chicago Business — Top Privately Held Company & Largest Construction Company in Chicago (2023–2025)
- REJournals Midwest Real Estate News Best of the Best — 4 consecutive years (2022–2025)
- The Real Deal — Top General Contractor, Chicago
- GC Magazine — Top Hotel & Hospitality Contractor in Chicago; Top Bar & Restaurant Contractor in the US
Here’s What Your Project Looks Like When It Goes Right
The day construction wraps on a well-run Summit project, you’re not chasing punch list items or arguing about a change order you never approved. You walk the finished space with your project manager, every detail has been addressed, and you hand your team the keys to a building that works the way you needed it to.
Your employees walk in and feel the difference immediately. The space does what it was designed to do. And months from now, when you think back on the project, what you remember is that it wasn’t nearly as stressful as you expected.
That’s what Summit clients describe. And it starts with a single conversation.
Let's Talk.
You’ve done the research. You know what you’re looking for. Summit has spent 20 years delivering exactly that for businesses in Chicago and Austin.
The next step costs you nothing.
