diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build.dart
index c3c78bc6a2a..bd88f4ad6ba 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build.dart
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@ import 'dart:io';
 import '../globals.dart';
 import '../runner/flutter_command.dart';
 import 'build_apk.dart';
+import 'build_ios.dart';
 import 'build_flx.dart';
 
 class BuildCommand extends FlutterCommand {
   BuildCommand() {
     addSubcommand(new BuildApkCommand());
     addSubcommand(new BuildCleanCommand());
+    addSubcommand(new BuildIOSCommand());
     addSubcommand(new BuildFlxCommand());
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build_ios.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build_ios.dart
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6db8a43fc8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/commands/build_ios.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+// Copyright 2016 The Chromium Authors. All rights reserved.
+// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
+// found in the LICENSE file.
+
+import 'dart:async';
+import 'dart:io';
+
+import '../application_package.dart';
+import '../build_configuration.dart';
+import '../globals.dart';
+import '../ios/mac.dart';
+import '../runner/flutter_command.dart';
+
+import 'package:path/path.dart' as path;
+
+class BuildIOSCommand extends FlutterCommand {
+  BuildIOSCommand() {
+    argParser.addFlag('simulator', help: 'Build for the iOS simulator instead of the device');
+  }
+
+  @override
+  final String name = 'ios';
+
+  @override
+  final String description = 'Build an iOS application bundle (Mac OSX host only).';
+
+  @override
+  Future<int> runInProject() async {
+    if (getCurrentHostPlatform() != HostPlatform.mac) {
+      printError('Building for iOS is only supported on the Mac.');
+      return 1;
+    }
+
+    printTrace('Ensuring toolchains are up to date.');
+
+    await Future.wait([
+      downloadToolchain(),
+      downloadApplicationPackages(),
+    ], eagerError: true);
+
+    IOSApp app = applicationPackages.iOS;
+
+    if (app == null) {
+      printError('Application not configured for iOS');
+      return 1;
+    }
+
+    bool forSimulator = argResults['simulator'];
+
+    String logTarget = forSimulator ? "simulator" : "device";
+
+    printStatus('Building the application for $logTarget.');
+
+    Directory buildDir = new Directory(path.join('build', 'ios_$logTarget'));
+
+    if (!buildDir.existsSync())
+      await buildDir.create();
+
+    bool result = await buildIOSXcodeProject(app,
+        buildForDevice: !forSimulator, buildDirectory: buildDir);
+
+    if (!result) {
+      printError('Encountered error while building for $logTarget.');
+      return 1;
+    }
+
+    printStatus('Built in ${buildDir.path}.');
+
+    return 0;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/ios/mac.dart b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/ios/mac.dart
index fd1db37d45e..3745bc52ba7 100644
--- a/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/ios/mac.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter_tools/lib/src/ios/mac.dart
@@ -89,7 +89,8 @@ bool _xcodeVersionCheckValid(int major, int minor) {
   return false;
 }
 
-Future<bool> buildIOSXcodeProject(ApplicationPackage app, { bool buildForDevice }) async {
+Future<bool> buildIOSXcodeProject(ApplicationPackage app,
+    { bool buildForDevice, Directory buildDirectory }) async {
   String flutterProjectPath = Directory.current.path;
 
   if (xcodeProjectRequiresUpdate()) {
@@ -114,9 +115,23 @@ Future<bool> buildIOSXcodeProject(ApplicationPackage app, { bool buildForDevice
   await _addServicesToBundle(new Directory(app.localPath));
 
   List<String> commands = <String>[
-    '/usr/bin/env', 'xcrun', 'xcodebuild', '-target', 'Runner', '-configuration', 'Release'
+    '/usr/bin/env',
+    'xcrun',
+    'xcodebuild',
+    '-target', 'Runner',
+    '-configuration', 'Release',
+    'ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH=YES',
   ];
 
+  if (buildDirectory != null) {
+    if (!buildDirectory.existsSync()) {
+      printError('The specified build directory ${buildDirectory.path} does not exist');
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    commands.add('TARGET_BUILD_DIR=${buildDirectory.absolute.path}');
+  }
+
   if (buildForDevice) {
     commands.addAll(<String>['-sdk', 'iphoneos', '-arch', 'arm64']);
   } else {