An Argument for Design/Build from a Designer
The adage “the only constant is change” was probably coined by someone working in the AEC industry. I can’t prove that of course, but I have a hunch. Disruptive change seems all around us, and just when we get used to one way of doing things its toppled by a bigger and better way. Project delivery methodology is no different. Design-Bid-Build was industry standard for years, and it’s still around for sure. But I’m willing to bet those who were stuck with hard bids in May of 2020 really regretted it.
The first week of February this year I traveled to Denver, Colorado to participate in certification training with the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA). Some of GLHN’s largest clients have adopted Design-Build as their preferred method of project delivery and we see the value in the training DBIA offers through certification. So, I dove right in.
Over three days myself and 20+ of my industry peers took a deep dive into industry best practices, project delivery and risk mitigation. At the core of DBIA’s best practices is a “mindset shift” for both design professionals and contractors. DBIA understands that in order for DB delivery to be successful, all parties (including the owner) have to shed their low bid mindset. It’s pretty clear that Design-Bid-Build sets all parties up for contentious relationships. Design-Build (when done right) can avoid these contentious relationships by bringing everyone to the table early for a common goal.
I’m probably biased because I started my career in architect-led design build. The control freak in me needed to hold on to every aspect of the project. As projects grow and become more and more complex, it’s easy to realize that this configuration isn’t scalable. And that’s where DBIA comes in. By codifying industry best practices and training industry leaders, DBIA insures to everyone that this control remains in the hands of those who can best deliver the project. This includes the owner. DBIA showed me that DB delivery results in a superior product at a comparable price with fewer delays. I have been on both the design and delivery side of design build delivery but never on the owners side. But it’s easy to see how beneficial this would be to any owner.
During my time in Denver, we talked about the benefits and pitfalls of all different delivery methods. All have their place within the industry. My time training with the DBIA convinced me that Design-Build delivery will continue to make gains within the industry. ♦
