Viewpoint

Design-build has been hailed as the healing salve for all things related to engineering or construction, and without a doubt, its benefits are numerous. But the decision to use design-build—or any delivery method—should involve careful consideration of many factors. Before embarking on a design-build project, it is important to know:

• The level of design detail you will get. It is not realistic to expect 100-percent drawings, because one of design-build's advantages is that a project can be built with 85-percent drawings.
• The degree of in-house, as opposed to subcontracted, work to be completed, since in-house work can ensure consistency in quality and many other advantages.
• Whether you want an integrated design-build firm or a designer-contractor team. If the latter, you should determine if they have worked together before, and what kind of short- and long-term support the team can deliver.
• The significant elements of the project scope and quality standards you desire. When done right, design-build is extremely effective at promoting innovative solutions and reducing schedule and costs.
• The importance of long-term performance, operating convenience, and operations and maintenance costs.
• Your preference for the amount of involvement and control over issues such as health and safety, contract administration, work inspection, and design development.
• The applicable laws in your state, since design-build is not allowed in all areas.
• The pros and cons of design-build's various forms—engineering procurement-construction management, true design-build, or design-construction management.
• That design-build procurements are most successful using qualifications-based selection, and not to select on price alone or you could get a poor-quality product. Also, the procurement process is complex and can require creative contract language.
• That while the procurement process can be complex, design-build also allows for earlier procurement and shorter overall project schedules than traditional projects.

Richard Slovarp is senior vice president in the firm's Maitland, Florida office. He has 30 years of experience managing large-scale construction programs, including numerous design-build projects.