Masonry Magazine October 2000 Page. 16
Design/build requires the owner to learn to trust. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be understandably difficult to do in the sometimes nefarious world of construction.
Many architects aren't enthralled with design/build because the architect relinquishes control over the construction process, and they don't like this. The architect is no longer the first in line, enjoying free reign to create an unencumbered "take-it-or-leave-it" construction package only to coldly thrust it onto a competitive market to live or die come bid time. Their attitude often appears to be, "over-budget - who cares? I'll just draw it again... and charge the owner for my additional time." Only in America.
Depending on the type of project and where you live, there may possibly be laws that require your job to employ an independent designer, an open competitive bid process, or a GC who is properly licensed to perform DB (if the architectural/engineering is performed in-house). Courts have found in the past some DB contracts to be illegal and/or unenforceable, particularly if the contractor is not a licensed design professional, so be sure you understand your responsibilities and requirements.
The owner may conceivably lose strategic legal and insurance advice now that the architect is employed by the GC. There are a variety of pre-printed contracts and supplements that are available to owners for design/build projects (published through different professional construction associations and organizations), but there is still a need for interpretation according to your own state laws, insurance & legal requirements, and the practical applications for your particular project. And there are other considerations, such as insurance for architectural and engineering errors (that the GC probably doesn't have) and whether bonding protection should still be applied. These are holes that would need to be filled.
Kennison
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CONCLUSION
So, as you can see, there is more to the design/build decision than first meets the eye. It does seem likely however, that regardless the road you take, there is going to be some investigation and consternation that will surely arise. If you'd like more information on design/build, you can find it as close as your library and the INTERNET, or if you wish, you can contact the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) at:
THE DESIGN BUILD INSTITUTE
OF AMERICA
1010 MASSACHUSETTS AVE., N.W.,
SUITE 350
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001
PH. 202-682-0110
Steve Saucerman is a full-time commercial construction estimator/project manager, freelance author and lecturer for the construction industry and also teaches Buliding Construction Technology at Rock Valley College in Rockford, IL.
16 MASONRY-SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER, 2000