Predesigned ADU plans to fast-track your build
Fastest way to a site-built ADU
ADUs are one of the fastest most effective ways of creating homes and value for your property. Using a predesigned plan can make it even faster. Our architects refined proven layouts and carefully selected materials for the guides. that is simple to construct and budget friendly for owners.
Avoid permitting pitfalls
Over many years of building ADUs in California we’ve learned many sites won’t work for prefab. The process of custom designing an ADU can take 9-12 months to develop and approve before construction can even begin. Our pre-designed plans fast-track the design and approval process saving months of design and planning and thousands of dollars.
Material selection guides
The process of custom designing an ADU can take 9-12 months to develop and approve before construction can even begin. Our pre-designed plans fast-track the design and approval process saving months of design and planning and thousands of dollars.
Built to last
The process of custom designing an ADU can take 9-12 months to develop and approve before construction can even begin. Our pre-designed plans fast-track the design and approval process saving months of design and planning and thousands of dollars.
Avoid time-consuming phases and begin construction around 6 to 9 months sooner.
Why use our plans to build your ADU?
Beautifully livable designs
Our plans are proven layouts that are a joy to live in. Light, bright, and open with all the necessities for comfortable living, carefully designed, cost-effective to build, and sustainable and beautiful for years to come. Many hours of design, revising, and thoughtful work went into assembling these pre-designed packages for you. We’re proud of the results and excited to be able to share them. We know they will streamline your build and result in a high quality living home.
Move-in sooner
Pre-designed plans typically save $15,000+ in additional design fees over custom designed ADUs and begin construction 6-9 months (or more) earlier.
Avoid pitfalls with Workbench expertise
We’re pre-development experts. We can be your guide on how to go from plans to completion and avoid many problems that could slow approval, increase costs, or worse, end in a finished build you don’t love.
A fit for most residential sites
We’ve chosen designs that work on the most possible sites. We have extensive experience building in California and can guide you to the best way to take your goals and site and make your project a success. A few details about your site and a short conversation is typically what's needed to assess what can be built in your specific location.
Designed to be finished just the way you want
Unlike manufactured homes where options are limited to a few choices, our designs allow for you to finish the interiors to your taste and with the appliances and fixtures you want. Dimensions are kept as standard as possible so you have many styles and price points to choose from, and we include finish planning guides and recommendations to help you make smart decisions without missing a single detail. Call it customizing where it counts.
Options to fit your needs
Our plans our designed to allow your builder to mirror the unit layout and in many cases alternates like sliding doors and skylights can be added. However, changes such as extending the unit’s measurements, adding or removing interior walls, or changing the number of rooms are considered custom designs and would incur additional time and cost.
Pre-designed may even be pre-approved
All our plan sets are designed to be approved in California. In some areas of California our pre-designed plans are also pre-approved by local planning departments allowing your design to skip the planning approval process and start building even faster.
We are working with many jurisdictions to gain pre-approval. If you are looking for pre-approved plans for your area please let us know. We’d be glad to let you know how soon they may be available. Our plans are currently pre-approved in the Central Coast Area, Capitola, and Seaside.
ADUs address available housing in California by adding housing density to existing land at a modest scale. More housing creates resilience, financial security, opportunity for income, room to age in place, house extended family, and more.
What’s included in our designs?
Pre-designed ADU plans starting at $3,500
Plans and elevations, materials, equipment, calculations all needed to acquire approval and building permits specific to your location.
Exterior Styling Guide
Thoughtfully chosen exterior styles and material guides allow you to match your ADU to your existing home style.
Interior Style & Planning Guides
All our plans come with a helpful interior finishes and appliance planning worksheet to help you and your builder coordinate whether you're DIYing it yourself or handing off the process entirely.
COASTLIINE 625
COASTLINE 625
Efficient, comfortable, light and bright. All the details for modern living carefully planned in 625 square feet.
Details
1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom
625 sq ft
Footprint: 19’x35’
Front Door / Back Door
Central Living / Dining Space
One Bedroom with Closet
Square footage avoids increased permitting fees in most jurisdictions.
Amenities
Full Kitchen
Washer/Dryer
Built-In Storage
Full Bathroom
Recessed Entry w/ Covered Porch
Flexible Exterior Styles
Our plans come with 3 roofline and exterior styles to fit your style.
COASTLINE 745
COASTLINE 745
Flexible spaces and thoughtful storage and flow. All the details for modern living carefully planned in 745 square feet.
Details
1 Bedroom | 1 Bathroom + Flex Space/Den
745 sq ft | Footprint: 19’x35’
Recessed Entry w/ Covered Porch
Front Door / Back Door
Full Kitchen
Washer/Dryer
Built-In Storage
Full Bathroom
Central Living / Dining Space
One Bedroom with Closet
3 Flexible Exterior Styles
Take the Next steps
Get your ADU off to a great start.
We’ll need some details about your location and situation before preparing your pre-designed plans. We typically reply with a few questions or schedule a brief call to confirm details and answer any questions.
Answer a few site questions and determine best plans for your project.
Confirm your site is a fit for the plans you want to use.
Once all the details are confirmed, we’ll send a link to pay and download your pre-designed plan set and materials guides.
Submit ADU plans, your site plan, and any other requirements to your local planning department.
Developed in Santa Cruz
Workbench built for good.
At Workbench we’re here to make an impact in California’s housing crisis. We’ve put our cumulative design/build experience into these plans and know they will valuable additions to your property and a pleasure to live in for years to come. Learn more about us and our services.
Flexible Exterior Styles
We’ve designed 3 rooflines to fit your style. Our plans include suggested materials guides for completing each of these looks.