Design/Build Construction Versus The “Traditional” Contracting Approach
When it comes to commercial construction, many owners and buyers believe that the best way to save money on a building project is by contracting with the lowest bidder. However, this practice can end up being far more costly than expected in terms of time, quality, life-cycle cost, and actual dollars spent.
Over the past three decades, a rapidly growing number of construction buyers have turned to design build as an alternative to low bid general contracting for commercial, institutional, and industrial projects. Independent research has shown that design build can be 33% faster, yield 20% in savings over traditional general contracting, provide superior product quality, and generate half the claims and litigation when compared to traditional and low bid contracting.
Design build is a construction delivery system under which one entity performs both architectural/engineering design and the actual commercial contracting approach. The owner commissions an architect or engineer to prepare drawings and specifications, and then separately selects a commercial general contractor by negotiation or competitive bidding.
With design build, the team is closely involved in producing a product that meets the owner's needs. The team also acts as a professional advisor to the owner. Design build provides a unique set of advantages not available in any other construction delivery system:
Single-Source Responsibility
Design build provides both architecture/engineering and construction resources under a single contract. The owner looks to a single entity for cost control, quality assurance, schedule adherence, and performance of the finished project. This results in clearly fixed responsibility, maximum cost control, and immediate responsiveness. The client can exercise his or her desired degree of control over design with the added advantage of continuously knowing the cost implications of each decision. The client's control of the entire process is strengthened by contracting with a single commercial construction company unconditionally committed to the success of his or her building project.
Early Knowledge of Costs
The design build team, working closely with the client, accurately conceptualizes the completed construction project at an early stage. Continuous and concurrent estimating during the development of design results in knowledge of firm overall cost far sooner than is traditionally possible. This process also permits making easy decisions – which have the greatest impact upon the life-cycle cost of the building – in an informed, cost-based environment.
Single-source design and production of industrial and consumer products, both large and small, has long been the norm throughout our economy. Now, quite understandably, design build has moved to the forefront of the modern commercial construction industry.
At WEB Construction, we understand the value of design build and have successfully implemented countless design build projects and construction management projects with Quality and Integrity Building Form and Function. We believe that by working closely with our clients, we can create a product that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. So if you're looking for a commercial construction partner who can help you save time and money while ensuring superior product quality, consider building with WEB Construction.
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