Design/Build Construction Services What is Design Build? Design/Build is the method of contracting where the owner hires a competent contractor who in turn hires all other members of the design and engineering team. This form of delivery system provides full construction services under one contract. The design team works with the owner from day one to determine the owner's requirements, methods and materials and the best construction value. The result is a project with a realistic budget, little to no change orders, and the best effective design from the start. The underlying purpose of Hood's Design/Build philosophy is to simplify the construction contracting process with a single point of accountability, while maintaining the best possible project cost and value solutions. Since all parties to the development team are involved throughout the design phase, value engineering is a natural part of the process, promoting a significant cost savings in both time and materials. EXAMPLE: The design/bid/build delivery system requires a significant amount of client time and dedication throughout the project, involving multiple company-paid employees who may or may not be familiar with construction materials and processes. These employee hours are expensive and difficult to track. Many of the decisions made by staff, must be reconsidered once construction has begun and other issues surface. Meanwhile, staff attention becomes diverted and some revenue-generating tasks may begin to suffer. With a design-build package, the contracted team handles a much greater portion of these decisions/tasks and, due to a high level of expertise and up-front involvement, is able to perform activities in a more cost effective manner and with greater client satisfaction. Thus, more than 66 percent of all work done in the construction industry today is now awarded on a negotiated design/build basis - by contrast to 33 percent only 25 years ago. According to McGraw Hill, 1995 marked the first year more contracts were awarded on a design/build basis than a plan/spec basis. The primary advantages to Design/Build are: Fast-track delivery Single-source responsibility Conflict/litigation avoidance Up-front value engineering Early guaranteed maximum prices Change order reduction Fewer overall snags which cause project delays Owners who hire Hood Construction for Design/Build look for: Quality On time delivery Structure Customized methods and attention Excellent Communication Professional business philosophy Built-in tracking and project management systems Contracting options for Design/Build include: Stipulated Sum - This contract option is based on a lump sum dollar amount agreed upon in advance and incorporated into the contract. Cost Plus - Under this method, an overhead and profit margin is agreed upon in advance. Dollar amounts or percentages are expressly stipulated in the contract. Guaranteed Maximum Price - This method is somewhat a combination of the Stipulated Sum and Cost Plus contract. Both parties enter into a contract with an agreed "not to exceed" price. Hood construction consistently works to provide a full range of services to its clients. Every project is approached as a challenge and opportunity to satisfy and express the needs of the client from a functional, as well as aesthetic, viewpoint. We look forward to an opportunity to discuss a customized design/build solution for your next construction project.