Design-build is the most preferred project delivery system. Though many are still unfamiliar with it as many laws and legislation are still being enacted to make it better and more convenient. The motive of this post is to make you familiar with the advantages of the design build project delivery system in the construction business.
Design-Build
Construction project owners plan on providing cost-effective construction timely. To achieve schedule, within the allocated budget, without tampering the quality this method of construction project delivery. Traditionally Design/Bid/Build (“DBB”) was followed everywhere, but nowadays owner tend to have a contractual relationship with a single entity that is responsible for both design and building in their construction project. This method of project delivery is known as Design/Build (“D/B”).
The USP of D/B contracting are:
1) ease for the owner as it has to deal with a single entity for the design and build both.
2) the risk for design errors is now contractor’s responsibility, not the owner’s.
Advantages of D/B
Saves time
The time lost in DBB process in selecting the designer and contractor is reduced to half. Also, the D/B contractor need not to wait for the entire design to get completed. They are allowed to start working once the basic design layout is completed. Like, they can start excavation the moment their design team build the foundation and utility relocation design. While the design team continue their work on the design further, construction team work on the excavation.
Cost
With D/B system, potential cost saving can be employed. Since the architects and Engineers are both employed by the same firm and they work in sync to maximise output for the construction contractor. Construction contractors have a real time experience when it comes to the various cost incurred. Like, purchasing and installing of materials required. In D/B system, there experience are shared with Design professional when they work on the design of the project. These factors affect the cost of material and thus translates into lower cost of construction, which can be passed down to the owner without affecting contractor’s initial process.
One Contact to understand entire scenario
The one-point contact feature is the USP of D/B design. That is for both the design and the construction you just have one contractor. Since, the owner has to deal with just one entity to get the entire information and delivery of the project many times outweigh the oversight benefits that an owner gets when he is contracting separately among the designer and constructor. D/B project delivery system places the owner in a place where he is relaxed and does not have to coordinate between the different departments of work.
cost incurred due to changes
Another key feature of D/B system that makes it better than any other project delivery system is that the owner gets what he pays for. There are very few changes in the overall project and whatever changes happen are resolved among the different departments of the contractor and his firm and the owner is not affected by it. However, if design changes occur because of the owner during an ongoing D/B project those changes are considered to be extra and the owner has to pay for them not the contractor. However, the owner is not held responsible for any errors made by the Design professionals and the cost incurred is beared by the contractor.
Less risk for the owner
Since the liability of design quality is shifted from the Owner, he is in a very safe position. On the other hand, everything from the design to construction is the sole responsibility of the D/B Contractor, that is considered as the most important feature of D/B project delivery system. The Owner is well aware of the cost of the project from the start. The D/B Contractor is more competent to manage and minimize cost escalation risk, so this type of design project works better for the owner as well as the contractor.
Construction Company Ft Lauderdale : http://www.millerconstruction.com/
