Starting a construction company, or any business for that matter, comes with a lot of uncertainty. For Dan Freeman, that reality was clear when he started Freeman Building Systems in the early 1990s. What followed were early risks, unexpected opportunities, and relationships that influenced the company and approach. Dan recently shared the story behind the early years of Freeman Building Systems on the Woo & WayCo podcast. Below are a few highlights from that discussion, offering a preview of what went into building Freeman.
Q: What led you to start Freeman Building Systems?
I left my family’s third-generation construction business in 1992 and decided to pursue design-build work. I wanted to work directly with owners and develop projects collaboratively instead of competing strictly on low bid. Early on, that was challenging. People would ask how many buildings we’d done, and I’d have to tell them they’d be the first. Most would say, “Call me in a couple of years.”
The first project came from a client who reached out, ready to move forward. That job gave us momentum, but the bigger turning point came shortly after. I was driving back from a job meeting, thinking we didn’t have much ahead, and I got a call from someone who had just purchased a business and needed a warehouse. I turned the car around, met with him that day, and a couple of months later, we were moving dirt. That project really put us in the warehouse business.
Q: What experiences or partnerships influenced your early approach?
One of the early influences was our introduction to Butler Manufacturing® during an early warehouse pursuit. What stood out wasn’t just the building system itself, but how the engineering and support aligned with a collaborative delivery model.
We were able to move quickly from concept to pricing, and the system provided confidence in both performance and constructability. That allowed owners to evaluate options earlier and make informed decisions without waiting for fully developed drawings.
That experience helped shape how we approached projects. Instead of separating design, pricing, and construction, we began aligning those conversations from the beginning, known as the design-build process. Over time, that collaboration became an important part of our overall approach.
Q: When did design-build become central to your approach?
I had experience estimating public bid projects, and I was rarely the low bidder. But on negotiated work, I realized owners were looking for something different. They wanted collaboration, clarity, and someone who could help guide decisions.
Around that same time, working with the Butler® building system reinforced how well it aligned with design-build delivery. Design-build allowed us to develop layouts, pricing, and schedules at the same time and give owners a clear direction early. That reduced the need for fully completed drawings up front and helped owners understand budget and scope before committing significant resources. It also created a single point of responsibility, which simplified communication.
Q: What early experiences influence projects today?
In the early years, relationships made a big difference. There were times when work was uncertain, and then a past customer would call and say they needed another building. Those projects often came at the right time and helped keep things moving forward.
A lot of our early work came from repeat customers. We completed multiple warehouse projects for the same companies, and each project built on the trust from the one before it. In many cases, those opportunities came from referrals or long-term relationships. There were projects we did on a handshake, and those relationships continued for years. Some of those working relationships turned into personal friendships.
When you work closely with customers through planning and construction, you build trust. I don’t have a product to sell. I’m selling trust.
For more from Dan about his education and early career path, the early days and evolution of Freeman Building Systems, and insights on effective client relationships, be sure to listen to the full Woo & WayCo podcast conversation.
About Freeman Building Systems
For more than 30 years, Freeman Building Systems has partnered with owners to plan and construct facilities around their operations, budgets and long-term goals. The collaborative design-build approach Dan describes continues to guide how Freeman develops projects today.
