Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
5
When Is Design-Build
Project Delivery
Appropriate for a Project?
Phil Sudol, PE, AECOM, and
Chuck Williams PE, DBIA, PMP, AECOM
INTRODUCTION
When owners consider using DB, one of their first questions is which project would be
a good choice for DB project delivery. This question can only be adequately addressed
with careful consideration of other issues relevant to implementing DB. Owners need to
address questions such as:
1. What is our purpose in performing DB?
2. What potential benefits of DB are most attractive for our organization?
3. What are the major challenges for our organization in doing this DB project?
4. Who can be our champions of DB within our organization?
With answers to these questions, an owner can begin to identify which projects are best
suited for DB delivery.
The single source of responsibility for design and construction and the performance-
based approach inherent in DB project delivery are very attractive to owners. DB can
provide several potential owner benefits including reduced risk, time savings, reduced
change orders and cost growth, and more clearly defined warranty and performance
responsibilities (DBIA 2008). These potential benefits, however, are only realized through
proper planning, procurement, and performance of the DB project.
Design-build project delivery can be used for any capital project, but to gain the most
benefits offered by DB, some projects are better candidates than others. The selection of
a specific project for DB delivery should be made after consideration of two major factors:
first, the owner's project-specific objectives, and second, an evaluation of the project's
characteristics, including any limitations and challenges. This chapter addresses these two
factors to assist owners in the decision-making process of selecting projects well suited for
execution by the DB delivery method.
47
Search WWH ::
Custom Search