WERK | Building Modern is the premier Indianapolis Modern Builder focused on leading the accurate, efficient, and high-performance execution of modern residential construction.
While we operate with the sophisticated logistics, budgeting, and trade oversight of a professional construction management firm, our soul is rooted entirely in crafting bespoke, modern homes. We are the ultimate custom home builder for clients who refuse to compromise on architectural intent.
We are the Architects at HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles, and we started building our client projects in 2004.
When we entered the residential marketplace, we discovered a glaring disconnect. The industry was – and largely still is – dominated by custom builders operating without design professionals. The result? A “design-by-committee” approach lacking in vision, technical sophistication, and restraint.
Worse yet, we found that traditional residential builders were deeply uncomfortable with the strict tolerances of modern architecture, while commercial builders had no interest in down-scaling.
We realized that if you want a modern masterpiece built correctly, you can’t afford to hand it off to a third party who views the blueprint as a rough suggestion. We created WERK to fill this exact void; a construction management firm designed exclusively for owners who demand high-performance execution and fierce defense of design integrity.
Why do we prefer to build what we design? Because it eliminates the classic construction friction point: the gap between intent and execution.
When the Architect is also the Master Builder, you achieve a single line of custody from the first napkin sketch to the final paint stroke.
We see three distinct approaches to project delivery in the construction phase. Where do you fit?
The Visionary (Category 1)
Owners who fiercely value design excellence, spatial innovation, and rigorous cost balance. They maintain active, collaborative alignment with the Architect from the first conceptual detail through final construction delivery. The Outcome: The realization of a highly cohesive, custom masterwork. Zero communication gaps, maximized investment value, and flawless physical execution that elevates daily living.
The Compromised (Category 2):
Owners or speculative developers who start with high design ideals but later eliminate or sideline the design team to chase perceived cost savings or immediate margins. Without ongoing qualified oversight, a fragmented “design-by-committee” approach takes over. The Outcome: An incomplete design, unplanned construction deviations, and a critical loss of structural and aesthetic continuity; overall, another lost opportunity.
The Generic (Category 3):
Owners who prioritize standardized production or absolute low-cost over true design quality from day one. This path typically bypasses registered architects and interior designers entirely, beginning instead with pre-packaged plan catalogs or a builder’s internal drafting team. The Outcome: A predictable, uninspired structure that minimizes upfront soft costs but fundamentally lacks spatial innovation, architectural soul, and long-term asset value.
We don’t just build for aesthetics; we build for the future. Environmental sustainability and low-impact building solutions aren’t trends to us—they are fundamental construction metrics.
As LEED AP and Passive House Builders, our team specializes in building science.
Thermal Envelope Precision: Executing complex, airtight assemblies above and beyond standard practice.
Active & Passive Strategies: Seamlessly integrating high-performance HVAC, solar readiness, and extreme insulation into architectural details.
Trade Orchestration: We don’t just hire subcontractors; we educate and manage our trade partners to meet rigorous sustainability and resiliency benchmarks.
Through WERK, real-world budgeting and advanced trade coordination happen simultaneously with the design process, ensuring your building performs as beautifully as it looks.
When you build with WERK, you aren’t just hiring a general contractor—you are activating an integrated delivery model where the Architect acts as the Master Builder. Because we originated the design, we have already dreamed it, drawn it, detailed it, and virtually walked through it before a single shovel hits the dirt.
This direct collaboration between Architect, client, and trade partners unlocks distinct advantages that traditional custom builders simply cannot replicate:
Ruthless Efficiency & Less Noise: By removing the traditional friction and finger-pointing between separate architects and builders, clear communication happens across fewer parties. This directly translates into less time, lower administrative overhead, and higher quality control.
True Value Engineering: Traditional contractors value-engineer by cutting the soul out of a design to save a buck. Because we understand the architectural intent, we know exactly how to navigate alternative materials and methods to achieve real-world cost savings without compromising the aesthetic.
Continuous Field Oversight: Your project receives the benefit of daily architectural oversight at every step of the construction phase. We are on-site ensuring that complex structural details and high-performance building metrics are executed perfectly.
With WERK, you get a seamless, 2-for-1 advantage that guarantees better project outcomes. We proudly stand alongside pioneering national firms like GLUCK+ in championing the undeniable power of Architect-Led Design-Build.
Do you care about uncompromising design quality? Do you value precise, direct communication? Do you want to protect your investment during the chaotic construction phase?
If so, then WERK is your advocate on the jobsite from groundbreaking to handover.
Ready to build without compromise? Connect with WERK | Building Modern today to start the conversation and see if we’re the right fit for your project.
Principal / Master Builder / Project Visionary
AIA, LEED AP, NCARB
“Chris bridges the gap. He ensures that what is conceptualized during project initiation is entirely buildable, strictly budgeted, and fiercely protected from day one.”
Principal / High-Performance Execution / Trade Commander
“Derek is the commander of the site logistics and high-performance metrics. He doesn’t just manage trades; he orchestrates them like a symphony to execute complex building science.”
Construction Management / Field Operations / Craft Execution
“Jason turns ink on paper into physical reality. He’s the boots on the ground ensuring that complex details are executed with absolute precision and zero compromise.”
Project Support / Virtual Construction / Detail Orchestration
“Dylan translates complex design geometry into bulletproof directions for the field, making sure it’s buildable before a single nail is struck.”
Project Management / Field Logistics / Trade Synergy
“Dakota keeps the gears turning across job sites. He is the fluid force moving between trades and management, ensuring field operations are tightly aligned and moving forward.”
Project Support / Finish Procurement / Interior Trade Orchestration
“Ashleigh ensures that the interior vision doesn’t get lost in translation. She owns the material custody, sourcing the exact elements and collaborating with specialized finish trades to nail the final details.”
We are currently looking for a Project Manager to grow our team and help oversee upcoming construction projects in the pipeline!
This person will have prior construction field experience and primarily help with the planning, management, and coordination of our unique, design-focused construction projects.
For more details, please check-out NEWS.
Please reach-out to angle@werk-build.com to express your interest and set-up a call!
Project Management/Trade Collaboration