A Fresh Take: The Design-Build Approach to Construction Management
CMSWillowbrook is in the construction management business, meaning our job is to oversee the planning, design and construction of a project from beginning to end.
Typically, once a project kicks off, the owner will hire an architect and then separately hire a contractor — but the architect and the contractor have no contractual relationship. While this doesn’t necessarily present a problem, it sometimes results in a lack of team cohesion.
However, there’s another way of doing things: design-build. With design-build, the owner hires only one entity, which is then responsible for meeting design, construction and budgetary requirements. Synergy is a natural outcome.
CMSWillowbrook recently had the opportunity to present at the national Design-Build Conference & Expo in Las Vegas, where our team met with other industry professionals interested in this revolutionary approach to construction management. Here are some key takeaways from our experience with design-build.
Why an Owner Would Choose the Design-Build Method
From the owner’s standpoint, design-build gives them (1) one point of contact and (2) increased value for their dollars.
Design-build streamlines the relationship between the owner, architect and contractor. With this method, the owner doesn’t have to worry about whether the architect and contractor are coordinating, or even if they get along.
Another key difference with design-build is the owner buys a finished product rather than a set of plans. The subcontractors and suppliers are involved in the decision-making, so they’re able to tailor their scope of work to the owner’s requirements. It’s a way of aligning scope and dollars early in the project for maximum efficiency.
The “Design-Build Done Right” Philosophy
Design-build takes a 360-degree look at the overall process, from owner inception and acquisition to team structure, development and communications. Some of the basic tenants of the Design-Build Done Right philosophy include:
Identifying if a project is a good fit for design-build
Owner education and training to ensure they understand the process
Making sure the contract between the owner and design-builder addresses the unique aspects of the design-build process, including expected standards of care for design services
Establishing logistics and infrastructure to support integrated project delivery
Facilitating timely and effective communication, collaboration and issue resolution within the team
Design-build is a paradigm shift. Sometimes it’s hard to get people out of their comfort zone and change how they do things. The process requires more legwork, but the end result is effective.
Design Build Projects
The Power of a DBIA-Trained Owner Team
Owners can’t be successful using design-build best practices unless they really understand the process. Their purpose is to set their vendor — which is CMSWillowbrook, in this case — up for success.
Owners which aren’t involved in a lot of construction work often think their purpose is to keep the architect and contractor from screwing up. But with design-build, owners have to shift their mindset to thinking about how they can help their vendor succeed. Owners pursuing the design-build process must ensure proper team training and set clear requirements. It’s not for the faint of heart.
The design-build process presents unique challenges, but CMSWillowbrook’s knowledge, experience and dedication means we’re able to complete these projects without problems.
John Morrison, AIA, Project Development