4 Advantages Of Using The Design-Build Approach For Your New Building
Posted on: 5 August 2021
If you are working on the construction of a new building, you may want to use the design-build approach, which is a project delivery system where you work under one contract for the entire planning, designing, and construction of the project. Essentially, you are putting together one cohesive team that will design, plan, and construct your project instead of bringing in separate elements for each step of the process. The design-build (D-B) process offers some unique advantages.
Advantage #1: Creates a Team
With a design-build approach, you build a team that will contribute and work together from the project's start. This team will consist of the client, construction manager or general contractor, the architect and engineer, the appropriate subcontractors, and the suppliers. All team members will be established at the start of the project.
Establishing all the team members at the start of the project will allow each team member to bring their expertise into each phase of the project, starting with the design. For example, your plumbing contractor can offer input on where water features are in the design and suggest changes that will improve the plumbing design. Or, the electrical contractor can suggest design changes that will make the electrical setup flow better. When all parties are involved starting at the design phase, you will be able to avoid issues further down the line that come up with implementing a design that your contractors were not involved in creating.
Advantage #2: One Point Person
With a design-build project, you will work together as a team, but you will also have one point person who is responsible for overseeing the work. This individual will serve as the communication liaison between all parties and ensure that everyone works together on all project elements. This will help ensure that there isn't any finger-pointing or blaming going on for not hitting project goals, as everyone is on the same team and reporting to the point person on the project.
Advantage #3: Customized Product
With a design-build approach, you will be taking into consideration everyone's input and ideas from the start of the project. This will result in a very personal collaboration and a project that will bring together various experts to create a final product that you, as the customer, will be pleased with. As you have all elements working together from the start, it should be easy to incorporate custom ideas and check that they will work with the contractors so that there are not any surprise changes during the building process.
Advantage #4: Cost-Effective
When you have a team established from the beginning that is all working together, you will be able to streamline your project and avoid delays that are often caused by bringing in subcontractors and outside parties partway through the project to take on various tasks. You should also be able to work on more cost-effective solutions and building methods when everyone is working together.
If you want a cohesive build where all parties collaborate together to come up with the most functional and practical design, you may want to consider using the design-build approach, where all parties work together as a team, starting with the design process, all the way through the construction of your building.
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