What does a building design firm in Bangladesh provide?

A building design firm in Bangladesh prepares the full set of drawings and calculations for a building: architectural plans, elevations and sections; structural analysis and reinforcement details; electrical, plumbing and fire safety layouts; and the drawings needed for authority approval. A good firm also coordinates these disciplines so that beams, ducts, pipes and cable routes do not clash on site.

Do I need a soil test before new building design in Bangladesh?

Yes. The structural engineer cannot design a safe foundation without knowing the soil's bearing capacity, layers and groundwater level. For a new building design in Bangladesh, a soil investigation should be done before the structural design starts, because it decides whether shallow footings, a mat or piles are needed and can change the cost of the whole structure.

Which drawings are needed for RAJUK approval?

Authorities such as RAJUK and other city or municipal authorities set their own submission requirements. They typically include a site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections and structural information, prepared and signed by qualified professionals. We prepare approval drawings to the relevant authority's current requirements and help you respond to any queries during review.

How long does building design take?

The time depends on the size and type of building, how quickly decisions are made at concept stage, the number of revisions and the authority approval process, which is outside the designer's control. We agree a programme for each design stage at the start, so you know when to expect the concept, approval drawings and construction drawings.

Can you design only the structure if I already have an architect?

Yes. We can provide structural design, electrical design or fire safety design alone, working from your architect's drawings. Integrated design is usually more efficient, but where another firm leads the architecture we coordinate with them and issue our drawings in a compatible format.

Do you also design factories and duplex houses?

Yes. We design factories, warehouses, commercial buildings, apartment buildings and private houses. Industrial buildings need extra attention to floor loading, fire separation and electrical capacity, while houses need careful planning of space, light and future extension. See our factory design and duplex house design pages for details.

Building Design in Bangladesh

Building design in Bangladesh is the coordinated preparation of the architectural, structural and MEP (electrical, plumbing and fire safety) drawings needed to get a building approved and built. It starts with a brief and a soil test, follows BNBC 2020, and ends with approval drawings for RAJUK or the local authority and detailed construction drawings.

Last updated: 7 October 2026Part of: Engineering services

Building design in Bangladesh decides most of what a building will cost, how safe it will be and how well it will work for decades. Mistakes made on paper are cheap to correct; the same mistakes built in concrete are not. TOTO POWER Engineering has been an engineering consultancy since 2011 and is enlisted with the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE). From our Dhaka and Chittagong offices we design residential, commercial and industrial buildings, with architecture, structure and services prepared by one coordinated team.

3D render of a mixed-use commercial and residential building design in Bangladesh

What is building design?

Building design is the process of turning an owner's requirements, a plot of land and a budget into a complete set of drawings and specifications from which a contractor can build. It is not only the appearance of the building. A complete design answers how the spaces are arranged, how loads reach the ground, how power, water and drainage are distributed, how people escape in a fire, and how all of this meets the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2020 and local planning rules.

If you are interested in the architectural character of buildings in the country, our earlier article on building design styles in Bangladesh gives useful background. This page focuses on the professional design service and what you should expect from it.

What does integrated building design include?

Architectural design

Site planning, floor plans, elevations, sections, door and window schedules, finishes and details. The architect balances the brief against plot size, setbacks, light, ventilation and budget. See our architectural design service for more.

Structural design

Analysis and design of the foundation, columns, beams, slabs, shear walls and stairs for gravity, wind and earthquake loads under BNBC 2020, with reinforcement detailing that a site team can build. See our structural design service.

MEP design: electrical, plumbing and fire safety

Electrical load calculation, distribution boards, lighting and power layouts, earthing and lightning protection; water supply, sanitary and storm drainage; and fire detection, alarm, escape routes and fire fighting provisions appropriate to the building's use and height. Designing these at the same time as the structure avoids cutting beams for pipes later.

What are the stages of building design?

Brief. We record your needs: use, number of floors, units or rooms, budget, future plans, and any lender or buyer requirements.
Site information. We collect the plot documents, a land survey and a soil test. The soil report must come before structural design.
Concept design. Sketch layouts and massing options showing how the building sits on the plot, with a first view of cost.
Schematic design. The chosen option is developed into scaled plans, elevations and sections with a preliminary structural grid and service routes.
Design development. Architecture, structure and MEP are coordinated, the structural analysis is completed and finishes and equipment are selected.
Approval drawings. Drawings are prepared in the format required by RAJUK or the relevant city, municipal or local authority, and queries are answered during review.
Construction drawings. Detailed, dimensioned drawings, reinforcement details, schedules and specifications are issued for tender and construction.
Support during construction. We answer site queries and, if appointed, provide construction supervision.

New building design in Bangladesh: why the soil test comes first

For any new building design in Bangladesh, the ground is the first unknown. Much of the country is built on soft alluvial deposits and filled land with high groundwater, and soil conditions can change sharply between neighbouring plots. The soil investigation tells the structural engineer the bearing capacity, settlement behaviour and groundwater level. That decides whether the building can sit on isolated footings, needs a raft, or must be carried on piles, which can be one of the largest single cost items in the structure. Starting design without a soil report means the foundation is based on guesswork.

New building design in Bangladesh: 3D render of a multi-storey apartment building

Which buildings do we design?

Building type	Key design priorities
Factories and warehouses	Floor loading, long spans, fire separation and escape, electrical capacity
Apartment buildings	Efficient unit layouts, car parking, lifts, earthquake resistance
Commercial and mixed-use	Flexible floor plates, public escape routes, services capacity
Duplex houses	Comfortable layout, natural light and ventilation, future extension

What you receive

Concept sketches and 3D views for the agreed option
Architectural plans, elevations, sections and details
Structural analysis summary, foundation and framing drawings, reinforcement details
Electrical, plumbing and drainage, and fire safety layouts
Approval drawing set for RAJUK or the relevant local authority
Construction drawings, schedules and outline specifications
Responses to technical queries during construction

Which standards apply?

Design is carried out to BNBC 2020, which covers architectural requirements, structural loads and design, fire protection and building services. Planning rules on land use, setbacks, floor area and height are set by authorities such as RAJUK and other city and municipal bodies, and they differ by location. Industrial buildings must also suit the Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 and Labour Rules 2015, which DIFE enforces once the factory is operating. Electrical work follows BNBC and relevant IEC guidance such as IEC 60364.

What is the building design cost in Bangladesh?

We do not publish a fixed rate, because two buildings of the same size can need very different amounts of design work. The main factors that affect building design cost in Bangladesh are:

Total floor area and number of storeys
Building use: residential, commercial or industrial
Which disciplines are included (architecture, structure, MEP, fire)
Basements, long spans, irregular shapes or difficult soil
Level of detail required for construction and tender
Number of design options and revisions
Support needed during authority approval and construction

Send us your plot details and brief and we will provide a written quotation for each stage, so you can commit to the design one step at a time.

Why choose TOTO POWER Engineering as your building design firm in Bangladesh?

When comparing any building design firm in Bangladesh, ask who prepares the structural and electrical design, not only the architecture. Our team covers architecture, structure, electrical and fire safety design, and also carries out structural, electrical and fire safety assessments of existing buildings. That assessment work shows us where buildings in Bangladesh commonly fail, and we design to avoid those problems from the start.