It all starts with a plan...
"Design/ Build"...you see the term used by builders everywhere. It is the seamless process of construction in which the architect is also the builder of his or her own design. Design/ Build has been growing in popularity for many reasons, including time and cost savings, having a single point of responsibility and a consistency of interest between the design and construction, and of course there is no finger pointing or adversarial relationship that can be common in the design-bid-build process.
Of course not every builder is really the designer. More often than not, the builder simply hires out an architect of his choice, which gets away from the benefits of having the architect lead the construction team. Instead of having the tail wag the dog, when you see "Design/ Build" touted by a builder, ask if it is a true "Architect-led Design/ Build" team.