The Design-Build construction method truly is a
'Better Way of Building'.
What is Design-Build construction?
Design-build is a construction project delivery system where, in contrast to “design-bid-build”, the design and construction aspects are contracted for with a single entity known as the design-builder or design-build contractor.
Why is Design-Build “A Better Way of Building”?
The Design-Build process…
- minimizes the project risk for an owner through providing a single source of responsibility as well as allowing the owner to influence the design and cost at an early stage.
- reduces the delivery schedule by overlapping the design phase and construction phase of a project. This allows the team to “Fast-Track” the design and construction phases by: identifying long lead items early, providing early and frequent budget input by contractor, and uniting the design team to provide the most creative solution to inevitable design hurdles.
- eliminates adversarial relationships within the construction team, by placing each member on a common team with a common goal.
How is the Design-Build method Cost-Competitive With the Bid Method?
The Design-Build method is price competitive with the Bid method. How? Because the Design-Build method capitalizes on opportunities to save largely ignored in the Bid method. Did you know that the largest opportunity to save money during the construction process occurs during the design phase?
The cost/influence chart, above, graphically depicts the relationship between costs and power of decision making throughout the project phases. Specifically, it illustrates how as costs are committed throughout the building process, the ability to make changes diminishes. Additionally, the changes made become more expensive and time consuming. Thus, the greatest opportunity to save time and money on a project begins well before the start of construction. This is why it is so important to have a quality contractor on your team, before the design stage begins.
Additionally, the Design-Build method provides opportunities to save by streamlining the billing function. By working directly with the owner, Stethen-Smith Construction is able to capitalize on discounts for the timely payment of materials. Also, the Design-Build method allows Stethen-Smith Construction to work with non-profit clients to maximize the tax savings on their project. These are substantial opportunities to save money on your project, opportunities the Bid method ignores.
Having completed many projects in this fashion, Stethen-Smith Construction has seen the value of this construction method. Jobs are completed on schedule and in budget. The results are undeniable. When owners, architects, and contractors are all striving for a common goal, success is inevitable. And since the Design-Build construction method allows for these amazing results, with no additional cost to the owner, it is truly a win/win/win method of building.
