Design/Build is significantly different from other construction project delivery systems, in that the relationship with the client commences before any design or bid documents have been produced.
Under the design/build approach, a team consisting of a general contractor, architect and engineer is assembled to provide an owner with a one-source point of contact in order to design and build their proposed construction project. This approach can save a project owner a tremendous amount of time and money and leads to a faster project completion time due to the overlapping nature of design and construction phases.
Other benefits include streamlined communication, increased owner involvement and the owner having a single contract for everything.
An Ounce of Prevention…
As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”
In other words, it’s most often easier to stop something from happening in the first place than to repair the damage after it has occurred. Translating this perspective to a construction or renovation project, by consolidating design and construction activities within one team, accountability is more firmly established.
When combined with a more rapid pace of design and construction, this most often accrues substantial savings to the owner.
A design/build contract consists of two phases:
- The first deals with preliminary design, budgets, schedules, as well as the submission and acceptance of the design-builder’s proposal by the owner.
- The second is the final design and construction of the project.
Efficiency and Peace of Mind…
In recent meetings with a business owner who was considering expansion, he acknowledged a lack of familiarity with the new construction process and shared his concerns regarding overall feasibility and the risk of up-front investment.
He also had serious worries about how long the project might take, as the new-business opportunity that was fueling his interest in the project involved meeting very specific customer time demands.
But by opting for a design/build solution, his fears were quickly put to rest!
Since design and construction services were combined into one team, he realized the benefits of one-stop-shopping at its best. As in-depth discussions regarding budget and scheduling took place during the first phase, he became confident in not only the project’s feasibility, but also in the team’s ability to meet his all-important deadlines.
“I was able to make better decisions in less time with greater confidence,” he said. “I’d highly-recommend the design/build approach.”