A1DesignBuild is a 21-employee worker cooperative that does residential sustainable design and building in Bellingham, WA. The owners decided to sell to a cooperative as a way to align with the values-drive construction work that has been at the center of the company’s culture for their 40 years building the business. The process began from a commitment to the idea in 2010, and progresses with support from local experts including other worker cooperatives in the industry.
Industry: Construction
Location: Bellingham, Washington
Number of employees: 21
Became employee owned: 2017
Financing: Shared Capital Cooperative
From the company
Learn more
- Whatcom Talk – A1DesignBuild’s Cooperative Ownership Continues Paying Dividends (2020)
- Whatcom Talk – A-1 Builders Creates More Than Just Homes (2020)
- Bellingham Herald – A longtime Bellingham business is leaving something of value to workers – ownership (2017)
- Sustainable Connections – A-1 Builders Wins Meaningful Employment 2017 Sustainability Champion Award (2017)
- Whatcom Talk – Business is Booming … and Shifting! A-1 Builders and Adaptations Design Studio Has a Remodel of Their Own (2017)
- Whatcom Talk – Let’s Cooperate! How A-1 Builders Owners Successfully Sold to the Most Qualified Buyers: Their Employees (2017)
- Bellingham Business Journal – Making a case for co-ops: how the rarely-taught business model is gaining traction in Bellingham (2016)
- SBDC – A-1 Builders & Adaptations Design Studio
Employee Owned Small Businesses in Construction
Employee Owned Small Businesses in Washington
Employee Owned Small Businesses Assisted by Shared Capital Cooperative
