What does 'design-build' mean in Sabal's context?

Sabal operates as both developer and builder — the firm owns the outcome across architecture coordination, permitting, construction, owner representation, and closeout under a single contract. The owner engages one accountable team with one fee structure, rather than a sequence of disconnected consultants (architect, general contractor, interior designer, project manager) each with their own contract and their own risk boundary. On complex luxury residences the consolidated model typically reduces timeline by 6 to 12 months and avoids the handoff failures that drive most overruns.

Does Sabal work with the owner's own architect?

Yes. On most Sabal mandates the owner selects the architect, and Sabal's design coordination team integrates with that architect's scope. The firm maintains working relationships with the architects most frequently approved by review boards across South Florida — in particular ARCOM (Town of Palm Beach), the Miami Beach design review boards, and the gated-community ARCs in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens. Owners without a chosen architect are walked through Sabal's recommendation list against the specific parcel and program.

What contract model does Sabal use?

For mandates above $4 million, Sabal typically structures contracts as cost-plus with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). The owner sees every subcontractor bid, change order, and invoice. The firm's fee is fixed at contract signing; underruns against the GMP accrue to the owner, overruns are absorbed by Sabal. Lump-sum and design-build fixed-price models are also available when they fit the program, though GMP is the dominant structure for projects in the $5M to $80M range.

What does Sabal do that a general contractor does not?

A general contractor executes drawings produced by others. Sabal, as a developer-builder, sits inside the upstream decisions: land acquisition due diligence, buildable-envelope analysis, architect selection, program definition, budget engineering against the schematic, permitting strategy, and owner representation against the design team. The construction execution is downstream. For owners who want disciplined risk management — not just a crew on site — the upstream scope is typically where value is created or lost.

Can Sabal handle the interior design and furnishings as well?

Sabal's integrated model covers architecture coordination, construction, and interior finish curation (materials, millwork, hardware, stone, flooring, lighting specifications). Full interior design (furniture, art, soft goods, FF&E styling) is typically scoped to a dedicated interior designer, with Sabal managing the coordination between the designer's scope and the construction milestones. On request, Sabal can also curate and manage the interior designer under the broader mandate.

How does Sabal handle permitting in different municipalities?

Every South Florida municipality has its own review process, and Sabal maintains active working relationships with staff at the Town of Palm Beach ARCOM, Miami Beach Design Review Board, Miami-Dade DERM, the Coastal Construction Control Line office at Florida DEP, and the gated-community ARCs (The Sanctuary in Boca, Old Palm and BallenIsles in Palm Beach Gardens, and others). The firm's permitting pathway is parcel-specific — it starts with a jurisdictional and overlay analysis before any design work to avoid costly mid-project surprises.

Services

Integrated services across every phase of the project.

We operate as both developer and builder, coordinating every specialist under one mandate. You work with one accountable team — not a sequence of disconnected consultants.

01
Design & architecture coordination
We curate and manage the architectural team, ensuring the design aligns with budget, site constraints, and the intended use of the residence — whether primary home or investment asset.
02
Permitting & municipal strategy
Navigating Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach zoning, DERM, and historic-district processes. We anticipate regulatory friction before it delays your project.
03
Budget engineering & cost control
Line-item transparency from day one. We engineer value without compromising design integrity — and defend the budget against scope creep throughout execution.
04
Construction execution
A fully-licensed luxury builder with a disciplined, vertically-integrated trade network. Constant site oversight from the Sabal principal — not an outsourced project manager.
05
Interior & finish curation
Material sourcing from trusted European and American suppliers. Finishes are selected for longevity and resale value, not just photography.

Frequently asked

How Sabal actually works.

What does 'design-build' mean in Sabal's context?: Sabal operates as both developer and builder — the firm owns the outcome across architecture coordination, permitting, construction, owner representation, and closeout under a single contract. The owner engages one accountable team with one fee structure, rather than a sequence of disconnected consultants (architect, general contractor, interior designer, project manager) each with their own contract and their own risk boundary. On complex luxury residences the consolidated model typically reduces timeline by 6 to 12 months and avoids the handoff failures that drive most overruns.
Does Sabal work with the owner's own architect?: Yes. On most Sabal mandates the owner selects the architect, and Sabal's design coordination team integrates with that architect's scope. The firm maintains working relationships with the architects most frequently approved by review boards across South Florida — in particular ARCOM (Town of Palm Beach), the Miami Beach design review boards, and the gated-community ARCs in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens. Owners without a chosen architect are walked through Sabal's recommendation list against the specific parcel and program.
What contract model does Sabal use?: For mandates above $4 million, Sabal typically structures contracts as cost-plus with a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). The owner sees every subcontractor bid, change order, and invoice. The firm's fee is fixed at contract signing; underruns against the GMP accrue to the owner, overruns are absorbed by Sabal. Lump-sum and design-build fixed-price models are also available when they fit the program, though GMP is the dominant structure for projects in the $5M to $80M range.
What does Sabal do that a general contractor does not?: A general contractor executes drawings produced by others. Sabal, as a developer-builder, sits inside the upstream decisions: land acquisition due diligence, buildable-envelope analysis, architect selection, program definition, budget engineering against the schematic, permitting strategy, and owner representation against the design team. The construction execution is downstream. For owners who want disciplined risk management — not just a crew on site — the upstream scope is typically where value is created or lost.
Can Sabal handle the interior design and furnishings as well?: Sabal's integrated model covers architecture coordination, construction, and interior finish curation (materials, millwork, hardware, stone, flooring, lighting specifications). Full interior design (furniture, art, soft goods, FF&E styling) is typically scoped to a dedicated interior designer, with Sabal managing the coordination between the designer's scope and the construction milestones. On request, Sabal can also curate and manage the interior designer under the broader mandate.
How does Sabal handle permitting in different municipalities?: Every South Florida municipality has its own review process, and Sabal maintains active working relationships with staff at the Town of Palm Beach ARCOM, Miami Beach Design Review Board, Miami-Dade DERM, the Coastal Construction Control Line office at Florida DEP, and the gated-community ARCs (The Sanctuary in Boca, Old Palm and BallenIsles in Palm Beach Gardens, and others). The firm's permitting pathway is parcel-specific — it starts with a jurisdictional and overlay analysis before any design work to avoid costly mid-project surprises.

Start your project

We don't take on projects. We take on mandates.

Whether you are acquiring land, developing a new project, or building a private residence, we provide the expertise, structure, and execution to bring it to life.

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Integrated services across every phase of the project.

Design & architecture coordination

Permitting & municipal strategy

Budget engineering & cost control

Construction execution

Interior & finish curation

How Sabal actually works.

We don't take on projects. We take on mandates.