In today’s era of the Internet and highly advanced technologies, we are used to fast progress in pretty much all spheres. Companies are looking for ways to run their projects much faster, better and for less money, in order to succeed in meeting (and perhaps even exceeding) customer expectations. In the field of construction, over the years there has been a gradual transition from a traditional design-bid-build to a modern design-build approach that offers more benefits. Still, many people are wondering what the best choice is and whether it is a better idea to opt for a modern or traditional construction approach.
To help you create a better picture of this we share with you the reasons why nowadays more people are choosing the design-build process over traditional construction. After collecting all relevant information, you get to decide for yourself.
What is the difference between modern and traditional construction methods?
The traditional method of construction included a three-step design-bid-build concept. This means that there was one company that was in charge of the design, but which did not deal with part of the construction. Instead, this business was outsourced to other companies. Bids are made in order to determine which company will deal with the ‘build’ part and perform all tasks related to that area. Although this method has been effective, the fact is that as soon as you have several different companies involved in a project, they depend on each other. If there is a delay in any link, it is transferred to all others. Finally, it affects the time required for the project, costs, and other important factors.
However, over time, a new, modern ‘design-build’ method of construction has become increasingly popular that has simplified the whole process and enabled people to save time, money and provided many other benefits. The design-build method means that the project is designed and built by one company, which bypasses many obstacles and the whole process is completed much faster.
What are the benefits of the design-build method of construction?
1. It enables better communication and saves time
The first huge benefit of the modern construction method was providing better communication and less time needed to complete the project. Regardless of how hard all the links in the chain tried, the traditional design-bid-build process inevitably hindered communication. And that is quite logical, considering that these are independent companies that perform different parts of one job. Non-optimal communication inevitably leads to process delays, so it takes much more time for the construction process to be successfully completed.
In the modern design-build method, there is one main project manager who collects information from all teams and manages them. This means that the possibility of communication downtime is minimal, the organization is much better overall and the work is completed on time.
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2. The risk of conflicts is reduced
Each company has their own unique vision and the way they feel is best to get the project done. Therefore, when several companies are working on one project, there is always the possibility that these visions differ and that at some stage of the project some kind of a conflict occurs, because everyone thinks that their approach is the most optimal one. This not only creates a bad atmosphere, but prolongs the whole construction process and requires additional costs.
The design-build construction method reduces the risk of conflict, because everything takes place under one roof. If the company is optimally organized and everyone is clearly given their responsibilities, there is almost no possibility of a conflict of interest, which is another great benefit of this approach.
3. They offer the possibility of a new and unusual design
The traditional design-bid-build approach mostly relies on prototype designs that are already there for a while. This is especially true when it comes to different branches of the same retailer – the design is pretty much identical and is done according to a predefined template. And yes, this may be okay for some projects, but it also sets big limits when it comes to some custom projects.
The design-build method overcomes these limitations because it offers great flexibility. It offers a possibility of presenting a new and unusual design every single time. Project owners with this method have a very close approach to both design and construction part of the team, so it is possible to reach an agreement on some innovative ideas and create highly customized facilities that require special attention and creativity. And nowadays, when new and different ideas are constantly being pursued, this approach is a real refreshment.
4. The responsibility is only on one company
In the traditional construction method, the responsibility is always shared between several companies, which can be a reason for conflict, but it also affects the determination of the budget and the time frame required for the project to be finalized. With this approach, one company influences another, so it can be quite difficult to determine the time and money needed for a project.
With the modern construction method, all responsibility is on one company. This means that if someone makes a mistake, there is no doubt who is responsible. All teams are under one roof, which makes it easier to estimate the time and budget needed to complete the entire project. In this case, there is no sharing of responsibilities, so there are no challenges that come with it.
Conclusion
Although in the past the traditional construction method fully met the clients’ needs, over time a new, design-build approach was developed that removed all the limitations of the traditional model and provided a number of additional benefits. The main reasons why people nowadays are choosing the design-build process over the traditional construction method is that it provides much better communication, reduces delays and saves money. The risk of conflict is also reduced and the responsibility is only on one company, which makes things much easier. Another amazing thing is that the design-build approach provides more flexibility and the construction of some unusual, innovative facilities, which was not possible before.
