Design Build VS Design Bid Build: What’s the Difference?

Design Build VS Design Bid Build - Hammers Construction
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Design build vs. design bid build: Understanding the Options
    • Design Build:
      • Single source responsible for both design and construction.
      • Collaboration, efficiency, and faster delivery.
      • Streamlined communication and results.
      • Construction experience incorporated into design.
      • Client can focus more on their business.
      • Eliminates design driven change orders.
    • Design Bid Build:
      • Familiar process.
      • Disconnected design and construction phases.
      • Client is left to evaluate competitive bid proposals and exclusions.
      • Client struggles with scope gaps and design driven change orders.
      • Low bid often results in Client sacrificing time, quality, and overall costs.

 

Why is Design build Right for You?

If you’re currently investing in a construction project, then you’re probably wrestling with big decisions like “do I go with a design build? Or a design bid build?” But how do design builds and design bid builds compare? How do you know which one is the right choice for your project? Understanding the differences between the two is crucial. So, let’s talk about design build VS design bid build.

 

Weighing Design Build VS Design Bid Build

Design Build: Streamlining the Process for Efficiency

Design Build VS Design Bid Build - Hammers Construction
Design Build VS Design Bid Build – Hammers Construction

In the design build approach, the responsibility for both design and construction rests with a single entity, typically a construction firm or a team consisting of architects, engineers, and contractors working together. This integrated approach promotes collaboration from the project’s inception, leading to streamlined communication, enhanced coordination, and faster project delivery. One of the key advantages of design build is its efficiency. By consolidating design and construction under one roof, potential conflicts are mitigated, leading to smoother project execution and reduced turnaround times. Additionally, the close collaboration between designers and builders fosters innovative solutions and value engineering, ultimately resulting in more cost savings for the client.

 

Design Bid Build: A Traditional Approach

Contrary to design build, design bid build follows a more traditional process. Under this model, the project is divided into two separate phases: design and construction. First, the client hires an architect or design team to develop the project’s plans and specifications. Once the design is finalized, the client solicits bids from construction contractors, selecting the lowest bidder to execute the project.  Design bid build offers familiarity to many clients, as it follows a linear progression similar to other procurement methods. However, this approach often results in a disconnect between designers and contractors working independently, resulting in miscommunication, delays, and change orders.

 

Choosing the Right Approach

When you’re examining design build VS design bid build, it’s important to consider factors like project scope, timeline, budget, and the personal preferences. If your top priority is a seamless, streamlined process with a single point of accountability, then design build may be your best option. But if you need to have full control over each phase, then design bid build may be perfect for you.

 

Speak with Local Construction Experts Today

Having trouble weighing design build VS design bid build? Let us help! At Hammers Construction, we understand the importance of choosing the right approach for your construction project, and we’re here to help you make the right choice. Whether you’re embarking on a commercial, industrial, or institutional project, trust Hammers Construction to be your partner every step of the way.

Contact Hammers Construction today to speak with one of our specialists about your project!

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About Hammers Construction

Over 60 years ago, Steve and Dave Hammers’ father began a commercial construction company in Northern Minnesota. Steve and Dave are carrying on the family tradition and passion for design-build construction. In 1986, the business bearing the family name, expanded to the Rocky Mountains. In 1991, Hammers Construction, Inc. (HCI) became an independent entity in Colorado Springs, CO. Over the years, HCI has earned a reputation for honesty, integrity, and professionalism in the very unique design-build construction industry.

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