Exploring Life & Business with Kelsie Michelson of Tectonic Design Build

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsie Michelson. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Founded in 2019 by husband and wife team Dylan and Kelsie, Tectonic Design Build prioritizes environmental stewardship, high-quality carpentry, and elevated design.

Dylan, CEO and seasoned General Contractor, identified a gap in building code standards and sought to create better homes for homeowners and the planet. Discovering Passive Homes as the pinnacle of energy efficiency, he assembled a skilled team of carpenters and designers dedicated to sustainable design and building practices on a local level.

With Kelsie as COO, her strategic leadership has propelled Tectonic’s growth, reshaping industry norms with transparency, collaboration, and communication as central tenants. Clients are valued partners in their home’s development. Kelsie’s emphasis on sustainability and a community-driven approach to custom home building has uplifted the Boulder small business community, reflecting Tectonic’s commitment to the community and a shared passion for excellence in design and construction.

In 2023, our brand underwent a significant transformation as we intensified our marketing efforts to spotlight design, community, and collaboration. Partnering with dozens of local brands in Boulder, we embarked on cross-promotional marketing campaigns, uniting with local businesses to uplift their unique voice and integrate their products and services into our projects.

This collaboration not only enhanced the quality and experience of our homes and design studio but also fostered a stronger sense of community-driven innovation. Together, we created elevated and community-centric offerings that reflect our commitment to do better, together.

We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

Shifting industry norms has been our biggest focus. Construction has a terrible reputation. It is known for poor communication and broken commitments. We want to offer a service to clients who are true partners with us in their projects. For many, this is one of the largest investments of their lifetime, and of course, it’s your home, one of your most cherished spaces of belonging.

We have done everything possible to shift these norms into true partnerships with our clients. We believe our clients should always know what is happening with their project and their investments and that they should be key players in decision-making throughout the process. We utilize cutting-edge technologies to ensure that our clients are informed and involved every step of the way. There should be no surprises, and we should over deliver in every possible way.

We have also had to shift the expectations of trades in this industry. Tectonic is highly tech-oriented because we know it’s the best project management system our clients’ project. The construction industry is woefully behind the times in how we deliver services. We have done a lot of relationship-building, education, and support to bring the trades along with us on this journey.

We’ve been impressed with Tectonic Design Build, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?

In short, Tectonic specializes in custom residential home remodeling and new construction through a design-build process. We value taking the clients from concept to completion for a truly integrated, streamlined experience that delivers the highest quality.

Tectonic Design Build offers a comprehensive suite of design build services to transform your home into a personalized sanctuary: remodeling, additions, new builds, exteriors, and custom millwork. 

Several key benefits of the Tectonic Design Build approach compared to traditional construction models:

Efficiency: By integrating all key stakeholders—Architect, interior designer, general contractor, carpenter, and project manager—into every project, Tectonic streamlines the design and construction process. This integration leads to better coordination and faster decision-making, reducing overall project duration and cost.

Collaboration: Tectonic emphasizes collaboration amongst all parties involved in the design and construction process. This collaborative approach fosters creativity, problem-solving, and innovation, resulting in better-designed and executed projects.

Transparency and Communication: Transparency and communication are fundamental to Tectonic’s process and core values. l. This means that clients are kept informed about project progress, costs, and any potential issues throughout the design and construction process, leading to a more trusting and satisfying client-contractor relationship.

Expertise: With years of experience and a refined process, Tectonic delivers luxury services and minimizes discrepancies in budget, time, and communication. This expertise allows us to anticipate challenges and proactively address them, reducing the likelihood of costly delays or budget overruns.

Community: One of our core values is building together better. For every project, we collaborate with the Boulder community to enhance the end result.

There are so many wonderful businesses in this community and so many entrepreneurs with passion and unique talents; we want to amplify them. We collaborate with partners across fashion, home goods, staging, plants, florals, organization needs, and more. Our goal is for our clients to have a truly holistic experience and to see that driven by the community we are all a part of.

What do you think about happiness?

Happiness is all about perspective. If you practice mindfulness, challenges are just opportunities for growth. That’s a big tenant at Tectonic; how can we grow together?

So I would say, we are very happy. We have an incredibly talented team that chooses to share their skills and gifts with us and our clients. Our team designed and built the beautiful Tectonic Studio, our home in the middle of Boulder that feels like a unique expression of us and a beautiful place for creativity and synergy. We have clients who trust us with their homes – no small thing – and by treating them like partners, they often become friends in the process. We get to create beautiful homes for people to spend their lives in, and that, in turn, leaves lasting impacts on the Boulder community. And we get to work with small business owners of Boulder to shine a light on all the talents within our community. 

It feels like we’ve created a full circle that gives purpose, creates beauty, and fosters growth. That makes us very happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tectonicbuilds.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tectonicboulder/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tectonicboulder/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tectonic-design-build

Image Credits
Kelsie and Dylan, Eleanor Williamson, and Kylie Fitts