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Design/Build or Plan and Spec
Design/build
In design/build, our engineers are part of the team that builds the project, maintaining responsibility for a working project from start-up through testing and delivery of final documentation. The design/build method generally results in a shorter and more efficient response to questions and changes, better project documentation, and lower project cost. It may involve more hands-on involvement of the eventual owner, but it also is often more cost effective and results in a shorter completion time to take the project from concept to beneficial use.
Plan and spec
With the plan and spec method, the eventual owner of the project selects a design team to develop bid documents (plans and specs) that clearly define the scope of work and level of quality and upon which construction contracts can be based. A weakness inherent with this approach is that builders and contractors are not involved at all at this stage of the process. Once the construction process begins, the engineers involved usually work for the eventual owner, representing the owner’s interest and ensuring that all aspects of the design are being implemented according to the plans and specifications. This delivery method significantly limits the owner’s involvement in the construction process, which can result in greater probabilities for cost escalation and generally a longer timetable for the time from concept to beneficial use.
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