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A 2018 FMI (Fails Management Institute) report found that, between 2018-2021, almost half of all construction spending in the U.S. would be on projects using the Design-Build delivery method.

The New England region accounts for only 4% of that Design-Build work. Yet, 76% of owner respondents in the FMI report rated their experience with Design-Build as either “very good” or “excellent” – the highest percentage for any delivery method.

We recently hosted a webinar, A Design-Build Primer: A More Collaborative Approach. Here’s what New Englanders need to know.

What is Design-Build?

The Design-Build delivery method streamlines the design and construction process with a single contract that defines performance, budget and schedule between the Owner and the Design-Build Team. The Design-Build team includes the contractor and architect and can also include the MEP trades and their engineers. This method naturally fosters collaboration and teamwork amongst all team members.

How can Design-Build fast track a project? 

An Owner can realize significant time savings on a project when choosing the Design-Build delivery method, because construction can start sooner in the process as opposed to waiting for final construction documents.

Tom Peterman, President of Peterman Architects, points out, “You’re working simultaneously on the design and the budget, so you know the project will come in on budget without having to spend time on revising the design scope and value engineering.”

The design-build approach also makes it possible for the early release of equipment and materials, while the design is still being finalized.

Matt Mullen, Vice President of Engineering & Design for EMCOR Services New England Mechanical, confirmed, “Once we select the equipment, we order it and design around that equipment.”

Design-build also streamlines the submittal and shop drawing process. Once the MEP, FP and other drawings are done, these trades have basically created their shop drawings. The rest of the design-build team has been reviewing the drawings and commenting on products throughout the design process, so the drawings are ready for construction.

Does an Owner lose out on the competitive bid process if they choose Design-Build? How about budget control?

The Design-Build process improves budget control for an owner while still giving them competitive pricing. The owner specifies their budget up front, and the Design-Build team works to meet that budget from the very beginning, tracking it throughout the design process. The owner gets to avoid the pitfall of Design-Bid-Build when the bidders’ numbers come in over budget, forcing the project into a value engineering phase.

The Owner is also getting competitive pricing from the trade partners. The construction manager gets multiple proposals from each trade before selecting the right one to join the team.

Gerald Nardone, Vice President of Nardone Electrical, points out, “These trade partners are designing the project from the beginning and not just giving the team a square foot number for the cost of work. They know their budget works.”

Do you think the owner’s satisfaction of the end result is higher using the Design-Build process versus other delivery methods?

Several studies have shown owner satisfaction is greater when using the Design-Build process, including the previously cited FMI report. The level of collaboration and interaction between the Owner and Design-Build team is higher, so there are fewer surprises. Everyone on the Design-Build team is working together, resulting in fewer arguments and less finger-pointing. If an issue arises, the team works together to solve it.

The Design-Build process works for small projects all the way to very large projects as long as the performance goals are well defined.

Making the switch to Design-Build will require Owners to make a cultural shift. Once an owner has gone through the process, they’re usually sold on it, because they’ve developed trust with the Design-Build team and are satisfied with the experience and outcome.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you with your next construction project.

A Design-Build Primer: A More Collaborative Approach

Panelists:

Chris Dittrich, Moderator, Preconstruction Manager – CT, C.E. Floyd Company

Thomas Peterman, President, Peterman Architects

Matt Mullen, P.E., BEAP, LEED AP, CBCP, Vice President Engineering & Design, EMCOR Services New England Mechanical

Gerald Nardone, Vice President, Nardone Electric