As a property owner, manager, or anyone who has to direct a major construction project, you have enough on your plate running your organization’s daily operations. Assuming your space requirements have expanded or you need some new facilities requirements, you don’t want to spend every workday and blow your entire budget trying to meet your needs.
Fortunately, there are other ways to fulfill your requirements than traditional construction methods. Design-build construction offers a single point of responsibility for your project, which simplifies the process, saves you time, and is a more cost-effective option.
How Does Design-Build Construction Work?
Traditional construction methods are also referred to as “design-bid-build.” As the project manager, you would first need to hire an architect to design your plans and then you would put the project out for bid with different builders.
The builder you choose will then most likely hire subcontractors to do some of the work, and there may be some confusion about the details or scope of the project. What you thought would be your final cost might begin to escalate when there needs to be additional work done by the architect and change orders submitted by your contractor.
A design-build project is different. Here, the entire team works as one unit from start to finish. You collaborate with a designer who also works for the same company as the team who will be responsible for construction. This type of construction not only simplifies the process for all involved, it also saves you time and money.
Design-Build Saves Time
When you don’t have to jump through as many hoops to get your project delivered, it’s going to save you some time. In fact, one study of various construction methods concludes that design-build construction achieves completion dates on average that are 33% faster than traditional methods.
This happens for several reasons. First, there are fewer steps in the process. You are only working with one partner, so you won’t have the delays associated with putting a job out to bid and waiting for responses. Also, since you are with the same team from start to finish, you will get a more accurate construction schedule upfront and have the right lead time on required materials.
Since you are working with just one partner, it’s possible to begin work on the initial phase of your project while you are still working on final designs and finish decisions. Finally, if there are any issues during construction, these can be resolved quickly to prevent further delays.
Design-Build Projects Save Money
In addition to your time savings, we’ve found that clients save anywhere from 6%-10% on projects when using a design-build process instead of traditional construction. Again, fewer conflicts between different players means less wasted resources.
When you receive your construction schedule upfront, this will also include accurate cost estimates. This type of construction historically has less waste, which is better for your bottom line. Finally, time is money. The sooner your project can be completed, the faster the new facilities can begin giving you a return on your investment dollars.
K-Con, Inc. is a Certified Design-Build Contractor
One of the beauties of the design-build process is that it works for just about any type of construction. At K-Con, Inc., we are certified design-build contractors who specialized in pre-engineered buildings for commercial and government clients.
K-Con not only offers turnkey solutions but can also customize any project to exactly fit your needs. Contact us today to learn more about the ways our team of professionals can help your organization meet its goals. Be sure to ask us about our fast turnaround for preliminary drawings and pricing.