diff --git a/.opencode/skills/dbt-analyze/SKILL.md b/.opencode/skills/dbt-analyze/SKILL.md
index f993e17974..d300284e86 100644
--- a/.opencode/skills/dbt-analyze/SKILL.md
+++ b/.opencode/skills/dbt-analyze/SKILL.md
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ If no manifest is available:
 1. Run `lineage_check` on the changed SQL
 2. Show column-level data flow
 3. Note: downstream impact requires a manifest
-4. Suggest: `altimate-dbt build-project` to generate one
+4. Suggest: `altimate-dbt build` to generate one
 
 ## Common Mistakes
 
diff --git a/.opencode/skills/dbt-analyze/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md b/.opencode/skills/dbt-analyze/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
index 6dbb8e9731..6bad491756 100644
--- a/.opencode/skills/dbt-analyze/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
+++ b/.opencode/skills/dbt-analyze/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ altimate-dbt info                          # Project name, adapter, root
 ## Build & Run
 
 ```bash
-altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # compile + run + test
+altimate-dbt build                                    # full project build (compile + run + test)
+altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # build a single model
 altimate-dbt run --model <name> [--downstream]      # materialize only
 altimate-dbt test --model <name>                     # run tests only
-altimate-dbt build-project                           # full project build
 ```
 
 ## Compile
diff --git a/.opencode/skills/dbt-develop/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md b/.opencode/skills/dbt-develop/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
index 6dbb8e9731..6bad491756 100644
--- a/.opencode/skills/dbt-develop/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
+++ b/.opencode/skills/dbt-develop/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ altimate-dbt info                          # Project name, adapter, root
 ## Build & Run
 
 ```bash
-altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # compile + run + test
+altimate-dbt build                                    # full project build (compile + run + test)
+altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # build a single model
 altimate-dbt run --model <name> [--downstream]      # materialize only
 altimate-dbt test --model <name>                     # run tests only
-altimate-dbt build-project                           # full project build
 ```
 
 ## Compile
diff --git a/.opencode/skills/dbt-docs/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md b/.opencode/skills/dbt-docs/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
index 6dbb8e9731..6bad491756 100644
--- a/.opencode/skills/dbt-docs/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
+++ b/.opencode/skills/dbt-docs/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ altimate-dbt info                          # Project name, adapter, root
 ## Build & Run
 
 ```bash
-altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # compile + run + test
+altimate-dbt build                                    # full project build (compile + run + test)
+altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # build a single model
 altimate-dbt run --model <name> [--downstream]      # materialize only
 altimate-dbt test --model <name>                     # run tests only
-altimate-dbt build-project                           # full project build
 ```
 
 ## Compile
diff --git a/.opencode/skills/dbt-test/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md b/.opencode/skills/dbt-test/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
index 6dbb8e9731..6bad491756 100644
--- a/.opencode/skills/dbt-test/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
+++ b/.opencode/skills/dbt-test/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ altimate-dbt info                          # Project name, adapter, root
 ## Build & Run
 
 ```bash
-altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # compile + run + test
+altimate-dbt build                                    # full project build (compile + run + test)
+altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # build a single model
 altimate-dbt run --model <name> [--downstream]      # materialize only
 altimate-dbt test --model <name>                     # run tests only
-altimate-dbt build-project                           # full project build
 ```
 
 ## Compile
diff --git a/.opencode/skills/dbt-troubleshoot/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md b/.opencode/skills/dbt-troubleshoot/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
index 6dbb8e9731..6bad491756 100644
--- a/.opencode/skills/dbt-troubleshoot/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
+++ b/.opencode/skills/dbt-troubleshoot/references/altimate-dbt-commands.md
@@ -20,10 +20,10 @@ altimate-dbt info                          # Project name, adapter, root
 ## Build & Run
 
 ```bash
-altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # compile + run + test
+altimate-dbt build                                    # full project build (compile + run + test)
+altimate-dbt build --model <name> [--downstream]   # build a single model
 altimate-dbt run --model <name> [--downstream]      # materialize only
 altimate-dbt test --model <name>                     # run tests only
-altimate-dbt build-project                           # full project build
 ```
 
 ## Compile
diff --git a/packages/dbt-tools/src/commands/build.ts b/packages/dbt-tools/src/commands/build.ts
index 07432ea4ad..5d796c764f 100644
--- a/packages/dbt-tools/src/commands/build.ts
+++ b/packages/dbt-tools/src/commands/build.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import type { DBTProjectIntegrationAdapter, CommandProcessResult } from "@altima
 
 export async function build(adapter: DBTProjectIntegrationAdapter, args: string[]) {
   const model = flag(args, "model")
-  if (!model) return { error: "Missing --model" }
+  if (!model) return project(adapter)
   const downstream = args.includes("--downstream")
   const result = await adapter.unsafeBuildModelImmediately({
     plusOperatorLeft: "",
diff --git a/packages/dbt-tools/test/build.test.ts b/packages/dbt-tools/test/build.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..586c1b1f19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/dbt-tools/test/build.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+import { describe, test, expect, mock } from "bun:test"
+import { build, project } from "../src/commands/build"
+import type { DBTProjectIntegrationAdapter } from "@altimateai/dbt-integration"
+
+function makeAdapter(overrides: Partial<DBTProjectIntegrationAdapter> = {}): DBTProjectIntegrationAdapter {
+  return {
+    unsafeBuildModelImmediately: mock(() => Promise.resolve({ stdout: "model built", stderr: "" })),
+    unsafeBuildProjectImmediately: mock(() => Promise.resolve({ stdout: "project built", stderr: "" })),
+    unsafeRunModelImmediately: mock(() => Promise.resolve({ stdout: "", stderr: "" })),
+    unsafeRunModelTestImmediately: mock(() => Promise.resolve({ stdout: "", stderr: "" })),
+    dispose: mock(() => Promise.resolve()),
+    ...overrides,
+  } as unknown as DBTProjectIntegrationAdapter
+}
+
+describe("build command", () => {
+  test("build without --model builds entire project", async () => {
+    const adapter = makeAdapter()
+    const result = await build(adapter, [])
+    expect(adapter.unsafeBuildProjectImmediately).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(adapter.unsafeBuildModelImmediately).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(result).toEqual({ stdout: "project built" })
+  })
+
+  test("build --model <name> builds single model", async () => {
+    const adapter = makeAdapter()
+    const result = await build(adapter, ["--model", "orders"])
+    expect(adapter.unsafeBuildModelImmediately).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(adapter.unsafeBuildModelImmediately).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      plusOperatorLeft: "",
+      modelName: "orders",
+      plusOperatorRight: "",
+    })
+    expect(adapter.unsafeBuildProjectImmediately).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(result).toEqual({ stdout: "model built" })
+  })
+
+  test("build --model <name> --downstream sets plusOperatorRight", async () => {
+    const adapter = makeAdapter()
+    await build(adapter, ["--model", "orders", "--downstream"])
+    expect(adapter.unsafeBuildModelImmediately).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+      plusOperatorLeft: "",
+      modelName: "orders",
+      plusOperatorRight: "+",
+    })
+  })
+})