Design Build Process

What is Design-Build Construction?

While similar to the more traditional design-bid-build, design-build takes a newer approach to project delivery—one that emphasizes open communication between all key players, including designers, architects, structural engineers, and sub contractors. Design-build construction offers many advantages to owners, including improved budget estimates, quicker project completion, and better teamwork between different entities.

Unlike design-bid-build, which requires a contract for plans, a contract for design and another for construction, design-build requires only one contract covering both the design and construction phases. The project usually progresses as an integrated process, overlapping the two phases. This speeds everything up, and a single leader—the design-builder—is responsible for meeting the contract requirements.

A variant of design-build, involves selecting the design-builder based on their qualifications rather than a project proposal. Many homeowners select their design-builder before the design and project details are worked out. In the design-build model, the homeowner works closely with the design-builder throughout all project phases, including design.

Typical steps in the design-build process include:

1. Owner Selects Design-Builder and Team

First, the homeowner selects a design-builder and other needed team members. If the project is taking a progressive design-build or design-assist approach, the design-builder is chosen before any planning or design has happened. If not, the owner may choose a design-builder after working with an architect and engineer to create an initial design for the project.

2. Planning and Design

Once the entire team is on board, plans are finalized based on the owner’s budget limitations, vision, and goals. Then together, the team creates a detailed design based on these criteria. Communication remains open between the design-builder and the owner throughout the process, keeping misunderstandings and rework to a minimum.

3. Setting a Project Budget

Once project design details are in place, the design-builder will create a proposal based off the approved design. MTR’s team then deliver it to the homeowner for consideration, and design tweaks are made as needed to get the budget and the project to the right place.

4. Construction

Construction can begin once the contract is agreed upon and the design is finalized. Throughout the process, the owner remains in close contact with the design-builder, and the design-builder facilitates open communication with the architect, engineer, and subcontractors to maximize efficacy and minimize miscommunications. With the design-build method the construction process typically proceeds smoothly.