SINGULAR RESPONSIBILITY With
both design and construction in the hands of a single entity, there is a single
point of responsibility for quality, cost, and schedule adherence. The
design-builder is motivated to deliver a successful project by fulfilling
multiple parallel objectives, including aesthetic and functional quality,
budget, and schedule for timely completion. With design-build, the owner is
able to focus on scope/needs definition and timely decision making, rather than
on coordination between designer and builder.
QUALITYThe singularized responsibility inherent in design-build serves
as a motivation for quality and proper project performance. The owner’s
requirements and expectations are documented in performance terms and it is the
design-build entity's responsibility to produce results accordingly. The
design-builder warrants to the owner that it will produce design documents that
are complete and free from error. During the construction process this
attention to quality does not end, as the designer becomes the master builder,
and manages the construction of the project to completion.
COST SAVINGSDesign and construction personnel, working and communicating as
a team, evaluate alternative materials and methods efficiently and accurately.
Value engineering and constructability are utilized continuously and more
effectively when the designers and contractors work as a team during the entire
design process.
TIME SAVINGS Since
design and construction are overlapped, and because bidding periods and
redesign are eliminated, total design and construction time can be
significantly reduced. With design-build, materials and equipment procurement
and construction work can begin before the construction documents are fully
completed. The resulting time savings translates into lower costs and earlier
utilization of the completed facility.
REDUCED ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENDuring procurement, the potential exists for design-build to our
client’s administrative burden. During actual design and construction, the
owner is not required to invest time and money in coordinating and arbitrating
between separate design and construction contracts, but rather is able to focus
on timely decision making.
EARLY KNOWLEDGE OF CONSTRUCTION COSTSConstruction costs are known far earlier than in other delivery
systems. The entity responsible for design is simultaneously estimating
construction costs and can accurately conceptualize the completed project.
Staged contracting for design-build services affords the owner one or more
"go, no-go" decision points during design. The decision to proceed
with the project is made before substantial design expenditure and with
knowledge of final project cost.
IMPROVED RISK MANAGEMENTPerformance aspects of
cost, schedule and quality are clearly defined and responsibilities / risks are
appropriately balanced (individual risks are managed by the party best
positioned to manage that risk). Change orders due to "errors and
omissions" are virtually eliminated, because the design-builder had
responsibility for developing drawings and specifications as well as
constructing a fully-functioning facility.