What is Design-Build, as we see it in our industry?
Design-Build is an effective way of achieving mechanical solutions that combines the engineering and construction effort into a cohesive and continuous process. The design build process can:
- Improve communication
- Shorten project timeline
- Reduce costs
- Optimize a project for budget constraints
“Design-Build” is not something you say, in a competitive bidding environment, to compensate for a lack of up-front engineering. This is a mistake that is becoming all too common. A customer performs in-house or hires a consultant for some “preliminary” design work meant to be used as a launch point to finish the project with a bid winning design-build contractor. Unfortunately, often major construction features are not addressed, and the phrase “it’s design-build” is too common in responses to RFIs. This contractual method CAN work and it often does; however, it requires the right engineer that understands how to identify and document the major features of the project to avoid delays, change orders, and cost overruns. By the way, Flo-Tron can happily assist in being that for-hire preliminary design consultant, even if the project is ultimately bid out. Who better to know how to identify and document the major features of construction required for pricing a project than a design-build team with nearly forty years of experience?
Flo-Tron would prefer to partner with our customers from “soup to nuts”- helping to develop the solution, engineering the project, and then constructing and maintaining. We have a system with an iterative process to make sure budgets vs. short and long term goals are met, with built in off-ramps as needed. Keep in mind that construction can begin before design is finalized- significantly shortening project delivery time.
One of the best features of a design-build project is the ability to understand up-front the appropriate solution(s) with real-world budgeting. There is no need to wait until an engineer is hired and a design is complete before a real budget (not an engineer’s estimate) can be developed. Sure, engineers can put together good cost estimates (some better than others), and RS-MEANS can be an effective tool when used properly, but these are no substitute for a cost developed by a contractor (that prices thousands of projects every year).
Flo-Tron has been implementing design-build projects for decades. We have the in-house engineering capabilities to evaluate and develop engineered solutions to improve your comfort, process, and/or business in addition to constructing and ultimate maintaining the project’s systems and equipment.
Steve Weber, PE
