QD Design designs daycares, Montessori schools, and private schools in Katy, Texas — architecture plus sealed MEP engineering under one contract, with the occupancy, life-safety, and licensing coordination these projects demand. We are a HUB-certified A/E firm based in Cypress (Houston metro), led by a Texas-licensed Professional Engineer.
What a Katy daycare or school permit set includes
Childcare and school projects layer three reviewers on top of each other: the building department (occupancy classification, egress, fire separation), state childcare licensing minimums (room capacities, sight lines, washing stations), and — where food is prepared — the health department. The MEP side carries outdoor-air ventilation for classrooms per IMC 2021, hot-water safety, kitchen exhaust where applicable, and IECC 2021 energy documentation. One firm producing architecture and MEP together keeps all three reviewers looking at a consistent set. See our daycare & school design service.
Education work you can verify
- Ivy Kids daycare, League City — full MEP design for a purpose-built childcare facility.
- Montessori school commercial kitchen, Sugar Land — three parallel reviewers (city building department, city health department, Fort Bend County Fire Marshal), 38 documented review cycles, building permit in about 30 days from first submittal.
Permitting in Katy
“Katy” spans three counties and two review worlds: inside the City of Katy limits, the city’s permit office reviews your project; the far larger unincorporated areas run through Harris County or Fort Bend County. Our F45 + FS8 dual fitness studios at 3170 Peek Road were permitted through Harris County with parallel TDLR filings. Knowing which reviewer your address answers to is step one — we confirm it before we propose. Statewide, any Texas commercial project valued over the $50,000 statutory threshold also requires TDLR registration and Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) review — we file the registration and coordinate the accessibility review as part of the package.
Frequently Asked Questions
What occupancy is a daycare in Katy, and why does it matter?
Daycares are typically Group E or I-4 occupancy depending on age and hours of care — the classification drives egress, fire separation, and life-safety requirements. We settle occupancy in the code analysis before drawing, so the reviewing jurisdiction review starts from the right basis.
Who reviews daycare and school projects in Katy?
It depends on the address: inside the City of Katy limits, the city reviews; the much larger unincorporated areas run through Harris County or Fort Bend County. Childcare projects also coordinate with state childcare licensing requirements, and a commercial kitchen adds health-department review — our Sugar Land Montessori kitchen ran three parallel review agencies and still reached permit in about 30 days.
Have you designed schools or daycares before?
Yes — the Ivy Kids daycare in League City (architecture + MEP) and a Montessori school commercial kitchen renovation in Sugar Land that cleared 38 documented review cycles across three agencies.
How long does design take?
Typical daycare and school tenant-improvement packages run 3–5 weeks from contract to submittal; plan-review responses are included until the permit is issued.
Also in Katy: restaurants · medical offices · retail · churches · warehouse & industrial · spas & salons · senior living — or see all Katy services.
Start Your Katy Project
One firm, one contract, a permit-ready set. Send us your floor plan — fee proposal within one business day.