design / build
As many facility owners and developers are finding, most design or
construction firms believe and suggest that their particular method of project
delivery is a panacea to all. That no matter how your project is funded,
whatever is your budget or timeline, however complex your project or how
regulated it is, theirs is the best project delivery option for you. But of
course, this cannot possibly be true, or the entire industry would migrate to
it until it was the only method available.
At Hurst-Rosche, we help our clients consider all of the influences mentioned above and any others and discuss the specific advantages and disadvantages of all available options in a process that reveals the best project approach each time. Hurst-Rosche has evolved over the past 75+ years into a firm that has the diversity, experience, and strength to deliver a project in nearly any way that proves to be advantageous to our clients. And more often as time goes on, to clients that have the option, Design/Build is proving to be a viable option.
Construction Waste
In a report prepared by the Building Smart Alliance it was estimated that as much as 50% of the construction cost of a typical building project may be considered as waste. And in a book on a related subject, The Commercial Real Estate Revolution: Nine Transforming Keys to Lowering Costs, Cutting Waste, and Driving Change in a Broken Industry, author Rex Miller states that when considering the total cost of a project, 12% is spent on wasted material, 7% is wasted due to poor planning, 10% is wasted due to rework and avoidable interference between trades, and 8% is wasted in the production, transportation, and pricing of construction documents.
Conversely, the Building Smart Alliance suggests that of the 50% estimated waste, 30% could be reduced by improving the project delivery process including design and construction.
An Improving Direction
In 2000 the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) was formed from representatives of industry leaders both in the US and abroad. The members of this organization represent over $200 billion on construction spending power. Many consider them a driving force and harbinger of change to the industry. This formation and organization was birthed out of the concern for cost overruns and busted schedules they were experiencing on an increasing frequency.
The CURT White Paper 1003 declares it’s Strategy: “Projects undertaken by deeply collaborative, multidisciplinary teams provide better and faster results.” Hurst-Rosche hopes to help drive this this type of change in the regions surrounding each of our offices. Our introduction and philosophy of identifying a “Client Partner” for our larger, more continual clients is a first step in developing a more collaborative, cross-functional team with members of the design, construction, and facility management professionals.
Design/Build Advantages
Hurst-Rosche has identified some advantages in the Design/Build delivery process over the traditional Design/Bid/Build in certain situations on appropriate projects. These straightforward, but fundamental differences provide the opportunity to save money and time by transforming the designers and constructors into a single entity to foster collaboration and teamwork under a common business plan. These advantages include:
1. Single Source of Responsibility
The most striking advantage to an owner in the D/B method is a single source of responsibility for all aspects of the project. Our clients have a single entity that they can hold accountable for every issue. No question, no finger pointing. By organizing ourselves as a collaborative team that includes all designers, constructors, sub-contractors, suppliers and the facility owner, the Design/Builder can offer a higher expectation to the owner that their project goals can be met.
2. Saving Time
As an integrated team, we can significantly reduce the amount of time from the owner’s inception of the project to move-in day. Teamwork minimizes redesigns and rework in the field. Fast-tracking long lead deliveries and submittals allow us to overlap the design and construction phases. The Design/Build delivery process reduces pre-construction time by streamlining both the buy-out and bidding time.
3. Saving Money
In a typical building project, approximately 80% of the project is determined by sub-contractors and suppliers. In the traditional Design/Bid/Build delivery process, these participants are not involved until most planning and design is completed and bidding is underway. When they are introduced as part of the Design/Build team, their input begins with all others and the project can be started with value engineering, delivery considerations, and construction method savings recommendations at the start. These ideas and options can be evaluated from day 1 at no cost to the owner.
Hurst-Rosche embraces the Design/Build project delivery method as a viable alternative to achieve a high level of client satisfaction, while minimizing the waste of time and money. Through a regular testing of design details, engineering solutions, and budget estimates we can communicate updates to the owner frequently with an expectation of nearly eliminating surprises along the way.
Architect Led Design/Build
Hurst-Rosche offers a high performing single firm architectural/engineering team. This remains intact in the D/B process when the Architect is the lead contract holder. This arrangement honors and preserves the long held relationship between the owner and their architect. The owner can maintain the commitment to uphold design standards that cannot be sacrificed for contractor profit. The designer-led Design/Build project delivery helps insure quality environments to healthcare, NFP organizations, and other private clients at a very competitive and affordable cost.
Solid design, cost effective solutions, condensed schedules, and reduced risk are the hallmarks of this type of project delivery.
At Hurst-Rosche, we help our clients consider all of the influences mentioned above and any others and discuss the specific advantages and disadvantages of all available options in a process that reveals the best project approach each time. Hurst-Rosche has evolved over the past 75+ years into a firm that has the diversity, experience, and strength to deliver a project in nearly any way that proves to be advantageous to our clients. And more often as time goes on, to clients that have the option, Design/Build is proving to be a viable option.
Construction Waste
In a report prepared by the Building Smart Alliance it was estimated that as much as 50% of the construction cost of a typical building project may be considered as waste. And in a book on a related subject, The Commercial Real Estate Revolution: Nine Transforming Keys to Lowering Costs, Cutting Waste, and Driving Change in a Broken Industry, author Rex Miller states that when considering the total cost of a project, 12% is spent on wasted material, 7% is wasted due to poor planning, 10% is wasted due to rework and avoidable interference between trades, and 8% is wasted in the production, transportation, and pricing of construction documents.
Conversely, the Building Smart Alliance suggests that of the 50% estimated waste, 30% could be reduced by improving the project delivery process including design and construction.
An Improving Direction
In 2000 the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) was formed from representatives of industry leaders both in the US and abroad. The members of this organization represent over $200 billion on construction spending power. Many consider them a driving force and harbinger of change to the industry. This formation and organization was birthed out of the concern for cost overruns and busted schedules they were experiencing on an increasing frequency.
The CURT White Paper 1003 declares it’s Strategy: “Projects undertaken by deeply collaborative, multidisciplinary teams provide better and faster results.” Hurst-Rosche hopes to help drive this this type of change in the regions surrounding each of our offices. Our introduction and philosophy of identifying a “Client Partner” for our larger, more continual clients is a first step in developing a more collaborative, cross-functional team with members of the design, construction, and facility management professionals.
Design/Build Advantages
Hurst-Rosche has identified some advantages in the Design/Build delivery process over the traditional Design/Bid/Build in certain situations on appropriate projects. These straightforward, but fundamental differences provide the opportunity to save money and time by transforming the designers and constructors into a single entity to foster collaboration and teamwork under a common business plan. These advantages include:
1. Single Source of Responsibility
The most striking advantage to an owner in the D/B method is a single source of responsibility for all aspects of the project. Our clients have a single entity that they can hold accountable for every issue. No question, no finger pointing. By organizing ourselves as a collaborative team that includes all designers, constructors, sub-contractors, suppliers and the facility owner, the Design/Builder can offer a higher expectation to the owner that their project goals can be met.
2. Saving Time
As an integrated team, we can significantly reduce the amount of time from the owner’s inception of the project to move-in day. Teamwork minimizes redesigns and rework in the field. Fast-tracking long lead deliveries and submittals allow us to overlap the design and construction phases. The Design/Build delivery process reduces pre-construction time by streamlining both the buy-out and bidding time.
3. Saving Money
In a typical building project, approximately 80% of the project is determined by sub-contractors and suppliers. In the traditional Design/Bid/Build delivery process, these participants are not involved until most planning and design is completed and bidding is underway. When they are introduced as part of the Design/Build team, their input begins with all others and the project can be started with value engineering, delivery considerations, and construction method savings recommendations at the start. These ideas and options can be evaluated from day 1 at no cost to the owner.
Hurst-Rosche embraces the Design/Build project delivery method as a viable alternative to achieve a high level of client satisfaction, while minimizing the waste of time and money. Through a regular testing of design details, engineering solutions, and budget estimates we can communicate updates to the owner frequently with an expectation of nearly eliminating surprises along the way.
Architect Led Design/Build
Hurst-Rosche offers a high performing single firm architectural/engineering team. This remains intact in the D/B process when the Architect is the lead contract holder. This arrangement honors and preserves the long held relationship between the owner and their architect. The owner can maintain the commitment to uphold design standards that cannot be sacrificed for contractor profit. The designer-led Design/Build project delivery helps insure quality environments to healthcare, NFP organizations, and other private clients at a very competitive and affordable cost.
Solid design, cost effective solutions, condensed schedules, and reduced risk are the hallmarks of this type of project delivery.
- Hurst-Rosche’s one firm, complete service allows us to provide
comprehensive architectural, engineering, surveying, and interior design
service to our clients.
- We are not a joint venture. We are not just another sub-contractor
to a constructor. We won’t have joined for the first time for your project. We
are a fully integrated Design/Build only partnering with experienced and proven
strategic constructor partners.
- Architect led D/B. Hurst-Rosche champions the method of designer
led Design/Build. By maintaining the close relationship between the owner and
architect, we maximize the importance of planning and design. Architect led
Design/Build is just the next step forward in the ongoing evolution of the D/B
delivery option. It offers better design, cost efficient facilities, tighter
schedules, and an overall reduced risk for the owner.
