The paper describes a method of incorporating knowledge and data of the production process into a concept design model in a way which provides a flexible and powerful structural design tool. Interactive graphics is shown to be a useful design aid when defining geometry and scantlings particularly when combined with a database of information on standardization, build methods and production technology. An effective method of assessing work content is presented in which man-hours are assessed for each phase in the construction process, that is, preparation, fabrication and erection. The total build cost, including labor, material and overhead, is used as the criterion in a series of studies which demonstrate the application of the method to concept design and which show the sensitivity of total cost to changes in various parameters of design and production.