Leon Williams Contractors’ Top Projects of 2025

/in /by

2025 has been a year of meaningful progress across Maryville and East Tennessee, and our team has been grateful to help shape the places where our communities connect and come together. From athletic facilities to ministry spaces to a new destination for sweet treats in downtown Maryville, each project reflects our commitment to professional and quality craftsmanship.

Maryville Track Facility

Just in time for the new school year, we completed a facility upgrade for the City of Maryville School System. The new building at the high school track includes locker rooms, restrooms, concessions and a modern press box with an expanded restroom addition at the baseball field.

These improvements are more than structural. They support student-athletes and elevate the overall game-day experience.

Public Church Expansion

Since 2020, we’ve partnered with Public Church in Cleveland, TN, alongside Studio Four, to refine and expand their growing campus. The project included a 9,000-square-foot addition with classrooms, a nursery space, main restrooms and large lobby areas, plus an expansion of their current worship center.

Faith facilities evolve with the needs of their congregation. With design-build collaboration, ministries benefit from a more unified planning process with the budget, architectural vision and functional needs all moving forward together.

Great American Cookie and Marble Slab Creamery

In downtown Maryville’s Greenway Village development, our team completed a two-story building that brought Marble Slab Creamery and Great American Cookie to the community. The two businesses occupy the lower level with two overnight rental units on the top floor.

Mixed-use spaces like this demand thoughtful integration of retail, hospitality and residential needs. Our building strategy ensures those elements work together efficiently, from utilities to foot traffic flow.

At Leon Williams Contractors, we’re proud to continue shaping the future of Maryville commercial construction, project by project, community by community.

Contact our experts today at (865) 982-1734 to start your next project.

Maryville commercial construction

Design-Build 101: Why You Should Consider Hiring a Design-Build Contractor

/in /by

In the world of construction, simplicity isn’t just a luxury, it’s an advantage. If you’re preparing for a new project, especially in the growing Maryville commercial construction market, there’s one project delivery method that stands out for its efficiency, accountability and results: design-build.

Whether you’re building a church, renovating a retail space or expanding your operations, understanding how and why the design-build method works can be the difference between delays and a job well done.

What Is Design-Build?

Design-build is a project delivery method where a single contractor handles both the design and construction of your project. That means one contract, one team and one point of accountability from start to finish.

Compare that to traditional construction methods, where you hire an architect first and then bid out the project to contractors. That two-contract approach often creates silos, miscommunication and finger-pointing when things go wrong.

Design-build breaks down those barriers and builds up the project owner’s confidence.

Three Reasons to Choose Design-Build for Your Commercial Project

1. Faster Project Delivery

With design and construction happening under one roof, schedules move faster. There’s no waiting for plans to be “handed off” between firms. Instead, collaboration starts on day one, so decisions are made quickly and efficiently.

For commercial construction projects, where speed to market can make or break a budget, design-build offers a huge advantage.

2. Fewer Surprises, Fewer Change Orders

Because design-build contractors are responsible for the full project lifecycle, you get early cost certainty and more accurate timelines. Potential issues, like permitting delays or scope misalignment, are flagged early.

Our team at Leon Williams Contractors works closely with project owners to lock in details upfront, so there are fewer costly change orders down the line.

3. One Point of Accountability

When the same team designs your space and builds it, there’s no room for blame-shifting. If an issue arises, you have one partner who’s fully accountable and fully invested in your success.

This level of ownership drives quality, transparency and trust, which is especially important for churches, retail, restaurant and office clients across East Tennessee.

Built in Maryville. Backed by Experience.

At Leon Williams Contractors, we’ve delivered design-build construction across East Tennessee for more than two decades. From commercial renovations to ground-up builds, our integrated approach saves clients time, reduces stress and ensures the final result reflects your vision.

As the commercial construction market continues to grow, the demand for streamlined, cost-conscious building solutions will only increase. Design-build is the present and the future, and we’ve been doing it since day one.

Ready to simplify your next construction project? Give our experts a call at (865) 982-1734 or contact us here.

Maryville commercial construction

What to Know: 3 Things to Consider for Your Restaurant Renovation

/in /by

To say the restaurant industry is booming is an understatement. According to the National Restaurant Association, “consumers plan to continue spending in their local restaurants, pushing industry sales nationwide to a projected $1.5 trillion…” If you are in the restaurant industry, you may already be seeing this trend. Of course, to remain competitive, the look and feel of your restaurant may need occasional renovations.

Even the smallest renovations should be taken seriously. Here are a few things you should consider once you’ve decided to start the renovation project.

The Consultation Phase

Choosing the right contractor is the most important part of the process. When making your decision, consider a contractor who prioritizes pre-construction consultation. During this phase, contractors will work with the project owner on identifying potential issues that could place the budget and schedule at risk. This is also an opportunity to set proper expectations.

Are Teams Communicating

Communication is important during any project. A restaurant renovation is no different and requires several teams such as engineers, architects, interior designers, and kitchen equipment suppliers. When starting a renovation project, ask the contractor questions regarding communication. Do all teams speak regularly? Is each team working toward a similar goal? It’s vital to ensure teamwork is a primary focus to minimize delays and changes. Seeking a design-build contractor can remedy issues because all teams are under the same contract. This helps streamline communication because the project owner knows who to speak to if an issue arises. This also helps guarantee teamwork because everyone is working toward the same goal.

Needs vs. Wants

With renovations, it’s always a good plan to consider what is a need and what is a want. This can range from finishes and fixtures to specific equipment.  Even if certain components can’t be installed now, it may be worth installing the infrastructure to support it in the future.  Consulting with your contractor is a great way to make these decisions. Value engineering contractors, like Leon Williams Contractors, will provide an evaluation of value, quality and life expectancy for building alternatives or solutions that are recommended.

If you are ready to partner with a contractor that can help guide you through your construction renovation, give the Maryville commercial construction experts at Leon Williams Contractors a call at (865) 982-1734.

For more information about Leon Williams Contractors, visit https://lwcontractorstn.com/.