Metal Construction News, May 2016

GUEST COLUMN Get the Job Done Better Faster and Smarter with Design Build By Todd Imming Chief Marketing Offi cer The Korte Co St Louis Ask an architect for his ideal structure and you might get an unbuildable landmark Ask a contractor for the same and you might get a box But ask an owner and youll probably get something like this a functional facility that meets business needs comes with the latest building technology looks great lasts provides energy savings and can be built quickly at a good price As solutions providers its our job to step beyond the narrow silos of the traditional architect contractor or specialty contractor and deliver results Given todays complex building needs and aggressive projects we must align our thinking strategies and solutions as a cohesive team And we need a project delivery method that makes it possible Fortunately one method has been proven time and again to create a successful team environment that fosters smarter projects smoother delivery and reductions in risk cost and schedule not just for owners but also for project teams That method is design build Single Source Responsibility Fosters Team Collaboration and Makes the Job Smoother How many times have you seen something like this happen on a job An architect designs a facility then a contractor wins the job and begins construction but a specifi ed building solution is impractical or too expensive to build A change order is requested the architect and contractor spar over whose fault it is and the owner is stuck with a higher bill and project delays In many traditional design bid build projects this is standard operating procedure Now picture this architect contractor owner and specialty contractors sit down with a proposed early stage design This multi disciplined project team reviews the design for potential issues of cost schedule and constructability Specifi c strategies are developed to alleviate any ambiguities left in the design And any potential problems are identifi ed solved and averted before construction begins Sounds a lot better right Thats how it works in design build In the design build project approach one entity takes single source responsibility for all project aspects All team members are contractually aligned from the start instead of working against each other and taking on concerns of contractual blame Not only is life easier for the owner but also for all project team members who are freed up to solve problems through collaboration Create Opportunity to Add and Capture Value In most any job the best opportunities to capture value are before the project begins and in early design Specifi cally by bringing together the expertise of a full team and working in open discussion with the owner you can align the project to achieve maximum value Whether youre building a distribution center to support logistical effi ciency or a hospital to support quality care collaborating up front as an expert team allows you to defi ne top level and specifi c goals then identify the most sound design and construction solutions Early stage designs incorporate the expertise of a full team and can be adapted to put the project on a course for success The entire job becomes an exercise in value engineering with specialty trades and domain experts gaining the ability to offer value added solutions on everything from energy effi ciency to foundation construction and fl ooring materials Through design build your team and your project become more valuable to the owner who reaps the value of a smarter project Risk is Actually Reduced because the Project Team can Control the Process Some contractors shy away from taking on the design risks associated with design build In our experience theres far greater risk in not taking some ownership of the design process To us the look and feel of a facility is only one part of the design Without incorporating cost schedule and constructability analysis into the design its incomplete And an incomplete design leads to change orders delays quality concerns or worse contract disputes and even safety issues Simply put its more risky to deal with change orders delays and problems on the job site than it does to get it right from the start Design build reduces risk by bringing together the whole team and ensuring potential problems are addressed before they become costly Results Speak for Themselves Starting with defi ned project goals and best value solutions design build paves the way for smarter construction and cost savings Then with solutions identifi ed and all parties on board your project team has the freedom to aggressively deliver innovative strategies that add value Job site preparation can overlap latter sections of the design process with project elements nested for fast track delivery Designs can better account for how the structure will actually be built and how materials will be installed Clashes in the use of space can be avoided creating the opportunity to deliver better solutions for building enclosures MEP systems specialty systems e g conveyors in a warehouse and everything in between The result is a faster higher quality project delivered at the best price And the numbers back it up According to a 2014 study conducted by McGraw Hill Construction 20 percent of designbuild projects are completed ahead of schedule a far higher number than design bid build projects completed early And a detailed 1998 study of 351 projects conducted by the Construction Industry Institute and Penn State Research found that design build provides 41 percent less unit cost than design bid build 335 percent faster project delivery than design bid build 52 percent less cost growth than design bid build 114 percent less schedule grown than design bid build The results speak for themselves With design build you can save time and money for owners and yourself Todd Imming is chief marketing offi cer for The Korte Co St Louis which is one of Engineering News Record Top 100 Design Build fi rms nationally More than 90 percent of the companys work is design build You can learn more at www kortco com design build May 2016 METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS 9 www metalconstructionnews com