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Design BuildSimply put, Design-Build creates a single contract between Owner and Design-Builder. Where before, the Owner may have contracted separately with an Architect and Contractor, Design-Build creates one contact. It relies on the roles, relationships and responsibilities of every participant. The Design-Builder may be one of several entities, including an architectural firm, an architectural/engineering firm, a construction company, or an integrated Design-Build firm. Work is typically contracted through one of three ways: with a Design-Build entity operating under one roof (consisting of an Architect, General Contractor or Developer), an Architect or Contractor contracting directly with the other to create a Design-Build team, or an Architect and Contractor team created as a Joint Venture for a specific contract. Selection of the Design-Build team can be accomplished through Qualifications Based Selection, advertising the work to a selected list of bidders, negotiated contracts, or through a design competition. Services may include programming, design, and construction and associated administration services. The services of the Design-Builder begin at the project's inception and continue through closeout. At the other extreme, Owner's who may be experienced with this delivery may already have standard drawings and specifications that are passed on to the Design-Builder. In this case, the Owner may be heavily involved throughout the project. A third scenario involves an independent Architect who may create bidding documents for the Design-Builder, who then completes the documents and is employed through construction. In all cases, responsibilities are shared between Architect and Contractor during both the design and construction phase. By the year 2005, the Design-Build Institute of America projects that most of the commercial work here in the U.S. will also use Design-Build as its form of project delivery. A recent survey conducted by the Construction Industry Institute clearly indicated that, when appropriate, Design-Build should be the project delivery of choice. It showed that Design-Build provides better results through lower costs, quicker schedules and more satisfied Clients. Results have been published by the Construction Industry Institute in a report entitled, "Project Delivery Systems: CM at Risk, Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build." Design-Build should not be taken lightly with teams that
are coming together for the first time. Clearly, a good relationship is a
prerequisite for any Design-Build approach. Using Design-Build successfully will
enable us to be responsible leaders with the vision; courage and knowledge to do
our jobs the way Owners expect us to. When the goals and objectives of all players are known up front, the team is destined for success. |