Design-build is a project delivery method where a single company is responsible for both design and construction, working under one contract with the owner.
Owners choose design-build to simplify communication and speed up delivery.
What Does Design-Build Typically Involve?
- One firm handling both architectural design and construction
- A single point of contact and single contract
- Design decisions made with buildability and cost in mind from the start
- Faster overall project timelines
Why Is Design-Build Important?
A homeowner adding a second story might hire a design-build firm that produces the architectural drawings in-house and then builds from them, avoiding the back-and-forth of a separate architect and contractor. The tradeoff is less independent oversight of the design compared to hiring an architect and contractor separately, since the same company controls both.
Design-Build vs. Design-Bid-Build
Design-bid-build keeps design and construction separate, with an architect completing plans before contractors bid competitively on them. Design-build merges those roles into one firm, trading some independent design oversight for a faster, more streamlined process.