According to a study from 2006, the Design-Build Effectiveness Study, it has been determined that design-build project delivery methods are the most effective choice for delivering public projects. In recent years, there has been growing support from design professionals for utilizing this method, leading to its increased popularity.
The participation of project designers is essential in the development process to guarantee the successful implementation of design plans and tackle construction challenges that arise due to the design. The Design Build project delivery method is highly effective in minimizing the total cost of project completion.
Furthermore, this technique allows for the capital facilities to be brought online more quickly. The design build project delivery method promotes collaboration between the owner, designer, and builder by creating a unified entity. This unity promotes cost efficiency and aesthetic quality in accordance with the client’s program. In the past century, disputes and conflicts surrounding design and construction were prevalent in both the private and public sectors.
The contractors blamed the design consultants for incomplete construction documents, while the architects blamed the contractors for changes in the order and low bidding. The owners claimed to be the most affected by the process, as they had to pay for the costs and damages caused by imperfect drawings and opportunistic contractors (Levy, 2006).
System initiated testing the entire project delivery system flow, aiming to eliminate all negative aspects of the old system. In case complete eradication is not possible, it would at least decrease the adversarial relationship among individuals involved. By implementing the design build project delivery system, a non-confrontational environment can be created to address construction project challenges. Analyzing all the positive factors, it is determined that the design build project delivery system is advantageous for project delivery.
Under the design-build project delivery system, the design professional is hired before the design phase is complete. In this process, the construction manager takes on the role of both the design professional and the general contractor and project manager. Several issues can arise during the hiring of this professional, which are outlined below:
- As per the confirmation of the professional disciplines, development of trust and confidence is required.
- The hiring of the design professionals is conducted by the persons not by the owner or the user.
- The associations at state as national level defines some levels related to performance of particular professional, some ethical codes and varied levels of competence for assurance of public security.
- By certain order, there is a great requirement for the professional to acquire the license. With the acquisition of license, the clients are satisfied that the professional has acquired the required level of competence. Any kind of improper practices by the professionals is prohibited.
- The hiring of a contractor is done by conducting bidding for the completion of the project on a set price.
- The hiring of the contractor does not include any kind of competitive bidding due to which, special legislations are essential to be considered in the hiring process (Understanding Project Delivery for the Design and Construction of Public Buildings).
In the current economic landscape, hiring or contracting a design professional can present several issues.
It is vital to effectively handle various issues including ethical, financial, legal, and general concerns in order to successfully complete the project. Coordinating with all these factors is essential for individuals to achieve positive outcomes. When hiring a design professional, there are pros and cons. On the upside, the design professional assumes responsibilities that safeguard the interests of the individual or owner.
The hiring of a design professional by the owner addresses both the quality building aspects and other construction-related functions. This contract also saves the owner time and cost. Working with such professionals speeds up project delivery. By holding a single entity responsible for the overall design and construction process, individual responsibilities are reduced to some extent.
This contract resolves disputes between professionals working on projects, excluding the owner from such conflicts. Although this benefits the owner in some ways, it also brings drawbacks. Primarily, it restricts the owner’s participation in the project, resulting in limited awareness of its advancement. Furthermore, this agreement provides less safeguard for the profit margin and may entail a concealed decline in quality.
The involvement of a design professional in the contract process is beneficial despite not representing the interests of the owner nor resolving conflicts between involved parties. While the design professional may harm some interests, the overall positive impact is more significant, making it favorable for the contract process.
The design-build method is a significant approach in which a single entity is hired for both design and construction purposes. This entity takes on the roles of both the design professional and the contractor. This project delivery system also affects the relationship between the design professional and the prime contractor. In the design-build project delivery system, there is a single contract that engages both the design service provider and the prime contractor, thereby establishing an organizational relationship between them. This relationship between the design professional and prime contractor also leads to the formation of a contractual relationship between them.
This contractual relationship establishes the responsibility and accountability of both parties involved, as stated by Hovet. In the design-build project delivery method, the design professional assumes the sole responsibility for both design and construction, rather than the prime contractor. The design professional must collaborate and coordinate with the prime contractor, as this responsibility falls to them. Therefore, the relationship between the prime contractor and the design professional is vital in this specific project delivery system.
The project delivery system improves communication between the service provider and the prime contractor, leading to a stronger relationship. Increased communication between the prime contractor and design professional also enhances mutual understanding, resulting in more effective outcomes.
By implementing this project delivery system, the accountability of the design professional is enhanced as they are solely responsible for design and construction. It also fosters better understanding between both parties, leading to valuable project feedback that assists the design professional in aligning their efforts with the prime contractor’s requirements.
The project delivery approach in question utilizes the personal affinities, strengths, and weaknesses of the design professional. It takes into account three specific factors: personal affinities, private projects, and public sector projects.
Industrialists hire engineers to seek potential profits in the private industry. Designers improve their professional expertise by working on diverse construction projects. Working closely with owners adds to the effectiveness of professional interactions. The cooperation between the design team and contractors enhances the capabilities of contractors through quality control and quality assurance. The need for innovative and unique design patterns in new projects greatly enhances the capabilities of contractors. As a result, professional designers’ personal affinities are greatly enhanced by utilizing these project delivery methods.
The professionals highly value the money spent by the owners in this method, as it leads to lower costs and enhances the capabilities of the professionals through team efforts. However, a weakness of this method is that it places sole responsibility on the design professional.
The relationship between the owner and the professional undergoes a radical change with design build. Liability and license issues limit participation in the design build team. The contractor bears all the risks associated with the project (Levy, 2006). Case Studies & Ethical Implications Case Studies: The effectiveness of the design build project delivery system can be demonstrated through case studies. A case in point is the State of California, which illustrates the favorable use of the design build method in public sector projects.
This project method was used in highway construction projects, and its effectiveness was reported by the LAO (Legislative Analyst’s Office). According to the report, the design build method ensures price certainty and eliminates conflicts and disputes. Additionally, it speeds up project delivery and reduces the need for a large technical staff. These advantages make the design build system well-suited for public sector projects (Levy, 2006).
The Journal of Management in Engineering released an article at the end of 2000. According to the article, projects totaling $37.2 billion were developed using the design build method. The report also mentioned that design build projects worth over $2.6 trillion have been completed since 1994. This data has been approved by the Federal Highway Administration Special Experimental Projects Program (Levy, 2006). Ethical concerns are associated with this delivery method.
The designs produced using this approach are visually pleasing. These endeavors necessitate seamless functionality and collaboration with the project team. There is no presence of deceit in this approach. The welfare of the owners is safeguarded under this method. Adherence to a code of ethics and standards is mandatory. Through these ethical considerations, it can be observed that the design build project delivery method not only yields cost advantages, but it is also equally fitting in terms of personal aspects.
References
- Design-Build E ffectiveness Study, (2006). Retrieved December 12, 2009, from http://www. hwa. dot. gov/reports/designbuild/designbuild
- htm Hovet, T. H. (n. d. ). Allowing the Design/Build Project Delivery Method in the Procurement of Public Construction Contracts. Retrieved December 12, 2009, from http://www. cascadepolicy. org/bgc/build. htm
- Levy, S. M. (2006). Design-Build Project Delivery: Managing the Building Process from Proposal through Construction. McGraw-Hill Professional. Understanding Project Delivery for the Design and Construction of Public Buildings. Retrieved December 12, 2009, from https://www. aia-mn. org/_assets/pdf/project_delivery. pdf
