Home
/
New Construction in Orinda

Orinda New Construction

A design-build team that masters Orinda’s complex hillside terrain to build custom ground-up homes.

Whether you are constructing a contemporary architectural masterpiece in the Orinda hills or a traditional family home, we design around your lot’s structural and environmental realities. One unified team handles architecture, engineering, permits, and construction.

Building New Homes Throughout Orinda

Building ground-up in Orinda presents unique structural and geotechnical challenges, from managing sloping hillsides to meeting strict local wildfire safety codes (WUI). We handle the intricate engineering required to build safely and beautifully on Orinda’s distinctive terrain

Geotechnical & Hillside Foundations

Sloped lots require specialized engineering, including caissons, grade beams, and engineered retaining structures to guarantee long-term stability.

Title 24 & Fire-Resistant Codes

We design to strict California energy standards while incorporating fire-resistant building materials required for hillside environments.

Complex Utility Infrastructure

Establishing new utility lines on wooded or sloped parcels requires extensive planning and coordination with local utility providers.

Hillside Job Site Logistics

Staging materials on winding roads and steep driveways requires expert coordination to ensure safety and maintain project momentum.

New Construction Process

1. Initial Site Visit: 1 to 1 ½ hrs

Every new construction project begins with a clear understanding of the site and the home you want to build. We start with an on-site walkthrough to evaluate existing conditions, access, and constraints, while learning about your goals, priorities, and long-term vision. By aligning early on scope, budget, and expectations, we set the foundation for a smooth and well-coordinated build.

On-site walkthrough to review the property, site conditions, utilities, access, and overall feasibility
We provide a free preliminary construction cost range based on size, complexity, and performance goals, for example $850k – $1.1M
To proceed, we enter into a preconstruction agreement (PCA), covering design coordination, engineering, budgeting, and permit strategy
New construction planning can range from relatively simple builds to highly complex custom homes, depending on site constraints, jurisdictional requirements, and client selections

2. Design & Material Selection: 2 - 4 months

Once the overall vision is defined, the design process translates that vision into a complete set of buildable plans. For new construction, this phase establishes the home’s layout, structure, and systems from the ground up, ensuring every decision supports performance, livability, and budget control. A well-developed design is essential to an efficient and predictable build.

In-depth consultations to define project goals, spatial needs, performance targets, and architectural direction
Design considerations typically include floor plan layout, structural approach, window and door placement, lighting strategy, material selections, finishes, and exterior expression.
The contractor prepares a detailed and comprehensive list of all project selections and scope items for client review, forming the basis for accurate pricing, permitting, and construction execution

3. Permitting: 2 - 3 months

Once the design is complete, it’s time to submit the plans to the city for approval! This can take a few months, but during this time you can still keep the project moving! While many major selections will already be defined, this phase is when you begin actively selecting and confirming key materials. In new construction, early choices such as tile and finish materials are especially important, as they inform precise layout, dimensions, and coordination of fixtures, niches, and other integrated elements throughout the build.

4. Construction: 1 - 4 months

Finally, our team begins with a careful protection of your surrounding areas. Dust barriers with zipper doors, HEPA air filtration, and floor protection are some of the methods we implement to ensure your home and family are protected from the process. A dedicated project manager and construction team will carry out the work in close coordination with the homeowner, providing clear communication, organized scheduling, and day-to-day oversight to keep the project running smoothly and predictably.

5. Move In

Once final city inspections are approved, we conduct a comprehensive walkthrough of the new home to confirm all systems, finishes, and details are complete and performing as intended. We then review and deliver all close-out documentation, including manuals and warranties, along with a long-term maintenance overview to help you care for and protect your home for years to come.

Our New Construction Work

A look at recent New Construction work from Beyond Green Construction.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Ready to start planning your Orinda Home?

FAQ

You Ask We Answer

How long does ground-up new construction typically take? +

Hillside custom homes in Orinda typically require 12 to 16 months of construction due to intricate site prep, structural framing, and comprehensive inspections.

Can you handle teardowns of existing structures? +

Yes, we manage safe demolitions of existing hillside homes, including hazardous material clearance and debris haul-off.

Do you handle City of Orinda permits for new construction? +

Yes, we manage all planning reviews, building permits, and environmental clearances directly with the City of Orinda.

What is the estimated cost per square foot for a new build? +

Hillside construction involves unique structural expenses. We provide a fully transparent, line-item budget during our preconstruction phase.

How do you manage architectural design and construction together? +

Our design-build model ensures structural engineers, architects, and builders are aligned from day one, preventing costly design errors during hillside framing.