Design Professionals and Contractor-Led Design-Build - Some Professional Practice and Risk Management Observations 

Overview: Unquestionably, the design-build delivery method is gaining popularity with owners and it should be expected that this trend will continue. While one may debate whether design-build will ever surpass the more pervasive use of the traditional design-bid-build delivery method no one can reasonably question that design-build has certainly emerged as a significant and realistic optional delivery method that deserves serious evaluation and consideration by owners and their consultants during the planning phase of many projects. The purpose of this article is not to revisit the debate about the merits of design-build, but rather, to explore various questions involved in this issue. The design-build method clearly has a permanent place in the menu of realistic project delivery options for many private and public sector owners. The critical issue for design professionals is what position they want to assume in the design-build method. Whether this position is professionally and economically rewarding and fulfilling and, in the long term, in the best interest of the independence and traditional mainstream client relationships of design professionals, is open to serious question and, presently, should be carefully evaluated by design professionals and the organizations which represent their interests. 

(Is this item miscategorized? Does it need more tags? Let us know.)

Format: HTML | Date: Jan 2003 | Pages: 1