Design-Build Delivers

Each year, design-build advocates across the nation and in the halls of Congress work to ensure that states and federal agencies have full access to design-build to deliver their projects. That authority has never been more important as we rebuild in the post-Covid environment and launch a new infrastructure reinvestment era. DBIA's advocacy team continues to lead that effort to educate lawmakers and advocate for expansive design-build authority. In this episode, DBIA's Vice President of Advocacy and Industry Engagement, Louis Jenny, and Richard Thomas, Director of State/Local Legislative Affairs give us details on why 2022 was a record-breaker for the passage of design-build legislation.

DBIA's contract documents have been the go-to resource for America's design-build teams for years. Now, with important 2022 updates available, these timely and customizable documents are ready to help teams face the challenges of today's marketplace. Design-build is continually evolving, so it's vital that teams implement Design-Build Done Right® throughout every phase of the project, increasing the likelihood of success. In today's Design-Build Delivers podcast, we talk to two design-build Contracts Committee Chairs (current and past) about this impressive suite of design-build contract documents and how they will help teams deliver the nation's most cost and time-efficient projects in the nation.

Providing a reliable and resilient energy flow to America's communities has been increasingly challenging. Climate change has tasked many systems while usage also continues to rise. In today's episode of Design-Build Delivers, we talk to two green building experts, Kevin Hydes and Sam Brooks, about the imperative to rebuild our power grid for the future, making it more resilient to the impacts of climate change while increasing access to affordable and reliable clean energy. There is $65 million in federal dollars invested in upgrading the electric grid, and America's design-build teams have an opportunity to lead the way in delivering innovative power projects for the future.

As we move into the second half of 2022, implementation of historic federal infrastructure investment is underway. Agencies and industry alike are getting new information and details almost daily on how the roughly $1.2 trillion will be distributed nationwide. 4,300 projects are underway in 3,200 communities nationwide with $110 billion in funding allocated. But even as programs become more clearly defined, there are still challenges that come with these opportunities. In this episode we talk to long-time federal market pros, Laura Stagner and Thom Kurmel about how design-build teams will play a vital role in helping agencies manage workforce, supply chain and cost certainty challenges.

Resilient design and construction is all about finding solutions to deliver longevity, innovation, and adaptability in our projects. Successful resiliency programs can be as unique as the projects they'll deliver; however, good resiliency programs have some essential elements. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, DBIA's VDC Director Brian Skripac talks to USCAD's Troy Gates and Ryan Colker from the International Code Council about a wide range of resiliency topics to help your team deliver projects that stand the test of time.

It's that time of the year when university students in design and construction programs nationwide prepare to compete in DBIA's annual Design-Build Student Competition. This event provides an unparalleled opportunity for students to show off their skills while meeting design-build industry leaders one-on-one. So, what makes a championship design-build student team? In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, the impressive competitors from the University of Colorado Boulder talk about the process, collaborating as a team and the incredible payoff once it was all over.

Whether you're back in the office, working remotely, or both, organizations continue to rethink how they manage a constantly changing COVID environment. For design-build teams tasked to create efficient, sustainable and flexible office space – innovation is more important than ever. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, we talk to one design-build team who successfully met that challenge to rethink the office space and deliver a workplace that really “works” during COVID and beyond.

The passage of historic infrastructure investment brings tremendous opportunities for the design-build industry, communities, and the entire nation as we make once-in-a-generation improvements to America's aging infrastructure. What is the state of infrastructure investment implementation and how can the design-build team prepare for what's ahead? Those issues and so much more will fuel next month's Design-Build for Water/Wastewater and Transportation/Aviation Conferences. In this episode, we talk to DBIA Water/Wastewater Markets Committee Chairman, John Giachino and Transportation/Aviation Chairman, Jim Avitable, about both events and why they're especially important this year.

The digital transformation now underway in our industry will transform the way we work and deliver design-build projects. But the successful use of virtual design and construction is about far more than just software and tech tools. In this episode, VDC Directors, Brian Skripac with DBIA and Alex Belkofer with McCarthy, talk about the importance of having the right people and processes in place to capture the full value of virtual design and construction on design-build projects. Thank you to our podcast sponsor U.S. CAD.

They say information is power and that's why DBIA is committed to bringing design-build teams the latest research and data to help drive your business decisions. As we begin 2022, with historic infrastructure investment on the way, it's especially important that our design-build industry and Owners understand the marketplace today and into the future. In this episode of “Design-Build Delivers” we get a detailed look at design-build market data through 2025. FMI's Paul Trombitas talks about market analysis by sector, region, and so much more. Thank you to our podcast sponsor U.S. CAD.

What makes a DBIA national project/team award winner? It's a simple question with a complex answer. Our jurors will tell you that as design-build grows exponentially, so has the innovation and impressive work being delivered by project teams nationwide. At the heart of all national design-build award-winning projects is the successful use of Design-Build Done Right® to deliver triple bottom-line results. But this year's Design-Build Project of the Year, the Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, takes those principles to new heights by innovating and collaborating in so many impressive ways. Hear first hand from the impressive design-build team about how they did it.

America's design-build teams continue to deliver some of the most innovative, resilient, cost and time-efficient projects in the nation. Whether it's a huge multi-million-dollar infrastructure project or a small community center, these national design-build winners show how the industry is changing the way America builds – even during a pandemic. This year's award winners share a number of things in common that make them the best of the best. In this episode, we talk to long-time Awards juror and Chair, Dr. Barbara Jackson, about the secret sauce that makes a design-build project and team truly great.

As we enter a new phase in our COVID-19 recovery, the issues facing employers and employees alike have shifted. While safety remains a top concern, the wide availability of a vaccine has many organizations questioning how/when to return to the workforce in full force. As some sense of normalcy returns, there are legitimate legal questions and challenges for employers. Including, can vaccines be mandated for workers returning to the job site and office? In this episode of our Design-Build Delivers podcast, we talk to Stephen Reams, Partner, and Joshua Holt, Associate, with Smith, Currie & Hancock, LLP, a law firm which focuses on construction and government contract law about this complex question.

Given all we've faced over the past year, we know design-builders are ready to seize the opportunity to come back even stronger in 2021. The possibility for new infrastructure investment, used as a tool to fuel economic recovery, provides design-build teams the chance to -- once again -- make our mark on communities nationwide. Are we ready for the potential opportunities ahead? The 2021 Design-Build for Water/Wastewater and Transportation/Aviation virtual conferences couldn’t come a better time for teams working to prepare for the future. With 28 sessions created by design-builders for design-builders, this event will help teams harness the power of design-build to lead our recovery. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, we offer you a sample of two recent conference sessions in the water/wastewater and transportation/aviation sectors as an example of what you can experience at our April virtual conferences. We hope to see you then!

We’ll start the New Year off by taking a look into our legislative crystal ball to see what 2021 may hold for design-build legislation nationwide. Not only is there talk (again) about the possibility of long-overdue national infrastructure investment but states are also looking to infrastructure as a way to jump-start their local economies. Today we talk to DBIA’s advocacy leaders, Louis Jenny, Vice President, Advocacy and Industry Engagement and Richard Thomas, Director State/Local Legislative Affairs, about what could be ahead for industry and Owners in 2021.

If you fly into Spokane Washington, there’s one icon you simply can’t miss – the Riverfront Park U.S. Pavilion. It’s been a landmark in the city since the 1974 World’s Fair and yet it had seen better days until the city’s parks department launched its first progressive design-build project to renovate and revitalize this important part of the community. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, we talk to the 2020 Design-Build Project of the Year team about the challenges and rewards of delivering a project that’s literally the talk of the town.

The best design-builders address differing site conditions based not only on the information they clearly see in front of them but on a deeper analysis of the situation. It just makes good sense to look beyond the surface. So, if it makes sense to look beyond the surface on a project, doesn’t it make sense to look beyond the surface in other aspects of our lives, including in our relationships, interaction, and partnerships with others? DBIA is proud to have some of the most forward-thinking, innovative, caring, and committed members in the design and construction industry. But even at DBIA, implicit bias is alive and well. “Diversity” and “Inclusion” are the safer, sanitized version of the elephant in the room – racism and racial bias. That is why DBIA is taking a bold stance in not just dipping our toe into topics of “diversity and inclusion,” but jumping waist-deep into the topic of racial bias and how we see each other when we refuse to look beyond the surface. In this Design-Build Delivers episode, we have an honest conversation with DBIA’s National Board Chair Rick del Monte and Executive Director/CEO Lisa Washington about the work ahead to deliver real change in the way our industry addresses systemic racism and bias.

Design-build has played a vital role in our nation’s response to the pandemic and will continue to be an important player in our post-COVID recovery. That’s just one reason why now’s the perfect time to join us at the 2020 Design-Build Conference & Expo and the Federal Design-Build Symposium. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers we talk to DBIA Conference Planning Co-Chairs about this larger-than-ever event, their goal to bring design-build teams the real-world help they need in today’s challenging environment, the impressive speaker lineup highlights of some of the 50+ sessions, and more.

Delivering construction projects is inherently risky. That’s just a fact. However, Design-Build Done Right® best practices can help project teams manage risk through early collaboration and integration to deliver more successful projects. Design pros Greg Gidez and Pat Crosby sat down with DBIA to talk about the challenges many teams can face if they don’t talk about risk long before day one on the job.

It’s that time of the year! DBIA’s 2020 Design-Build Project/Team Awards jury is meeting to choose the nation’s best in design-build. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers we talk to our current Project of the Year team about what it takes to deliver a truly extraordinary project. Sharp HealthCare turned to the Hensel Phelps | SmithGroup design-build team to deliver a next-generation hospital tower in Chula Vista, California. Not only does it provide life-saving and healing care to thousands it’s also an iconic, trailblazing and life-changing beacon for the community it serves.

We’ve ignored our national infrastructure for decades and by some estimates, it will take trillions to reverse the damage. But even with broad popular support for increased infrastructure investment, the conversation always ends with “how do we pay for it?” Norman Anderson is an infrastructure expert who’s spent decades working strategically on infrastructure solutions and advising legislative leaders on how to break the political and leadership logjam. DBIA talked to him about our new economic challenges and the potential that infrastructure stimulus could be used help rebuild our economy.

There’s no doubt America’s design-build teams will have a critical role to play in the post-COVID-19 recovery period. What role will resiliency play as we design and build these recovery projects? How do we ensure project teams aren’t trapped in “blue sky thinking” that ignores the adaptation we’ll need in projects of the future? Today we talk to Dr. Stephen E. Flynn, the founding Director of the Global Resilience Institute. His challenge to our industry was made before the COVID-19 crisis but rings especially true now.

The challenges facing design-build teams nationwide vary widely as some projects continue and others are delayed or canceled. It’s vital that teams develop strategies to assess their risks and protect from potential disputes. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, DBIA talks to Steve Reams, an attorney with Smith Currie who specializes in construction law and civil litigation about navigating the present and future in these uncertain times.

Successful design-builders are collaborators. We know early integration of the entire team delivers the best results and yet…are we fully engaging our supply chain on design-build projects? Are we maximizing the full benefit of early collaboration or is there a kink in the design-build supply chain? New research on supply chain engagement in design-build will help provide answers to those questions. In this episode of “Design-build Delivers” we talk to DBIA Water/Wastewater Committee member and Victaulic Vice President, Ernie Maschner, about this FMI research and the challenges and opportunities facing design-build teams in fully engaging their supply chains.

Design-build has come a long way since DBIA first began working in the legislative arena helping to draft Design-Build Done Right® bills in states from coast to coast. In 1993, only three states had design-build public authority --now only two states are design-build holdouts. Every year, there is important legislative debate in statehouses which directly impacts how design-build teams deliver their public projects. The 2020 legislative season is now in full swing, so in this episode of our Design-Build Delivers podcast we talk to DBIA’s State/Local Legislative Affairs Director, Richard Thomas, about the legislative landscape.

Let’s start the New Year off right by beginning this year’s design-build conversation at the beginning of the process – procurement. What does it take to practice Design-Build Done Right® procurement? How do you get your team on the same collaborative page from the very start of the process? In this episode, long-time federal procurement professional and DBIA instructor Rich Formella provides a “how-to” for successful procurements. He also gives us a look into the nation’s first design-build for procurement training courses, created with the National Institute for Public Procurement (NIGP).

Whether you’re an Owner new to design-build or an old pro…choosing the right delivery method for each project is the vital first step to success. Not only do Owners need a good understanding of the available choices, they must translate how those methods might meet the unique needs of the project and the Owner itself. Sometimes that can be easier said than done. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, we talk to Bruce Husselbee, Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s Director of Engineering, about HRSD’s growth and evolution as an experienced design-build Owner delivering billions of dollars in water/wastewater projects while also garnering national accolades at the same time.

Not all industry conferences are created equal. If you’re going to take the time away from your projects, we know you better come home with new design-build tips and tools, network connections and insights that can be put to work immediately. That’s the recipe for DBIA’s conference success. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, DBIA’s Executive Director, Lisa Washington, CAE, gives listeners an inside look at what you can expect from a DBIA conference.

It’s no surprise -- design-build qualifications help drive our industry’s most successful teams. As the use of design-build continues to grow nationwide, so has the competition and that means teams must demonstrate in quantifiable ways their design-build expertise. DBIA Certification has become a vital part of how successful design-build teams win projects. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, we talk to former DBIA Certification Board Chair Keith R. Molenaar, Ph.D., FDBIA about the spectacular growth in Design-Build Certification and how it’s benefiting thousands of design-builders nationwide.

As the use of design-build continues to grow nationwide, so has the need for new project tools to help collaborative teams share vital information. On big projects and small, BIM has become valued not only for its three-dimensional illustration of a design but also for its ability to help measure impacts that possible changes could have on cost and schedule. It’s no surprise that the use of Building Information Modeling or BIM has become so popular among design-builders. As Brian Skripac, CM-BIM, LEED AP, the Director of Virtual Design + Construction at CannonDesign tells us, BIM helps fuel design-build’s collaboration and innovation.

Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) in many ways looks and feels like design-build. However, in addition to those commonalities, there are some important differences. In this episode we talk to Haskell Infrastructure President Peter Kinsley, CBC, DBIA about the power EPC delivers in the industrial marketplace. Whether it’s complex processing plants utilizing the latest industrial equipment and processes to innovations in the aeronautics industry, EPC like design-build, is leveraging collaboration to deliver impressive project results.

Whether you call it big data or smart water, the digitization of the water/wastewater sector is transforming the industry by providing innovative solutions to challenges including rising water rates, aging infrastructure and overall water stress. Reese Tisdale, the president of Bluefield Research talks about what’s ahead for the industry and what role will design-build can play in helping foster the innovations this digital transformation will bring.

The latest design-build research predicts 5.8 percent annual growth in design-build spending in the education sector between 2018-2021. In fact, with 15 percent of the nation’s future design-build spending expected in the educational sector, education joins manufacturing and highway/street as among the top design-build markets. Design-build is already helping educators nationwide maximize their capital budgets in impressive ways. In June’s episode of Design-Build Delivers we talk to two experienced education sector design-builders, Brett Mitchell, who’s now the Facilities Planning Manager at the University of California, Davis and Eric Smith Associate Vice Chancellor for Capital Program Management University of California, San Diego about the past, present and future of design-build in education.

While it might sound cliché, it’s also true. The future of our industry will be defined by young people in college and apprenticeships today. What do they expect from and will contribute to a career in the architecture, engineering and construction industry? We put those questions, and many more, to members of the National Design-Build Student Championship team from Iowa State. They provide some interesting insights into future generations of design-builders and also offer advice for student teams considering competing in this year’s DBIA National Design-Build Student Competition.

Chances are, if you ask ten design-builders -- What is an Owner’s Advisor? – you might get ten different answers. From the east coast to the west coast, and across all sectors, the role of the Owner advisor can be very different. Just the name itself varies significantly. That’s why DBIA’s Owner Advisor Task Force has been working with others in the industry to create a primer to help define the Owner Advisor role. In this episode we talk to task force member, experienced Owner Advisor and PMSI CEO Bill Shepler, about the new DBIA Owner Advisor Primer.

As states and communities continue to search for ways to address their infrastructure challenges by doing more with less, America’s rail and transit sectors are increasingly turning to the power of design-build. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, we look at the past, present and future of design-build in transit and rail. Tim McKay with Dallas Area Rapid Transit and Phil Sheridan with Clark Construction have decades of experience in delivering successful infrastructure projects which improve our daily lives, while also connecting communities and boosting their overall economic health. They offer their views from an Owner and practitioner’s perspective.

Design-build is all about collaboration. That means building a strong team, with members well-suited to your project, is critical. If you talk to the nation’s most successful design-builders, they’ll tell you choosing the project’s specialty trade contractors can make the difference between a good project, a great project or even a project that didn’t quite deliver to its potential. February’s episode of Design-Build Delivers talks to two long-time design-builders – DBIA Founding Father and McCrory Construction Executive Vice President, Don Warren, and Rosedin Electric’s Executive Vice President, Jim Hawk, about how to ensure your specialty contractors are fully integrated members of your team and the incredible benefits you can reap by making those choices early and effectively.

It’s a new year and we’re going to start it off right but busting some old design-build myths. Does design-build collaboration diminish design excellence? No way! In fact, as the use of design-build continues to grow in all sectors and project types, successful teams are delivering truly spectacular architectural designs across the nation. In this month's episode we talk to the winning team of DBIA’s 2018 National Excellence in Architectural Design Award. Rich Wells with Absher Construction Company, Mark Sindell and Don Caffrey with GGLO Design say the incredible Elson S. Floyd Cultural Center at Washington State University simply couldn’t have happened without design-build.

No matter how you measure it, 2018 was a terrific year for the design-build industry and DBIA. New research anticipates more of the same…so how do we capitalize on this historic period in our industry’s history? DBIA’s Executive Director/CEO, Lisa Washington, has some ideas. In this episode, we talk about what’s ahead for design-build owners and practitioners in 2019, new DBIA opportunities which can benefit every member of a design-build team and ways you can maximize the huge opportunities available to our industry. Help us celebrate your successes while building for the future. Happy Holidays from DBIA!

In 1993, design-build was authorized by just three states for public projects…today, there are just three states which are holdouts. The industry has come a long way in the 25 years since the first group of leaders met in Washington, D.C. to talk about forming a new design-build association. The Design-Build Institute of Association started as just an idea. Thanks to the leadership of our five “founding fathers:” Preston Haskell, Jim Gray, Rik Kunnath, Don Warren and Kraig Kreikemeier, DBIA has transcended even their dreams for the organization. In today’s episode of Design-Build Delivers we talk to DBIA’s founding fathers about the past, present and future of our industry.

No one can predict the future; but Jack Uldrich can help you prepare for it. Jack is a leading futurist, author, and speaker who helps organizations gain the critical foresight they need to create a successful future. Jack is a prolific speaker on technology, change management and leadership. He tells Design-Build Delivers that creativity and action are more powerful and versatile than knowledge.

Your schedule is jammed and there simply aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week to get it all done. Such is the life of a design-builder; however, long-term planning is vital to your success. And ours too. That’s why DBIA has launched it’s 3-year strategic planning process. We’ve heard from design-builders throughout the nation about what they need to succeed. DBIA President/CEO Lisa Washington and National Board Chair, Bill Hasbrook, give us a glimpse into how DBIA hopes to turn those hope and dreams into reality.

Each year thousands of incredible design-build projects not only deliver exceptional on-time and on-budget results for Owners, they’re also making impressive contributions to our communities and industries from healthcare to education and everything in between. DBIA is proud to honor our nation’s best projects and teams each year with National Design-build awards. In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, we talk to two members of DBIA’s National Awards Jury about what it takes to be a DBIA national award winner.

Design-build’s growth in the market is nothing short of phenomenal, with a projected 18% growth in design-build capturing 44% of the construction market. In this episode of “Design-Build Delivers” we talk to research analyst Paul Trombitas, with FMI Corporation, about new design-build research results and what they mean for the industry and your business.

In this episode of “Design-Build Delivers” we talk about the leaders we have versus the leaders we need with Dr. Barbara Jackson, the Director of the Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management (RECM) and its Center for Integrated Project Leadership at the University of Denver. Barbara is one of the most recognized thought leaders in the AEC industry. Barbara spent decades in the construction industry and is the author of what many consider design-build’s bible “Design-Build Essentials.”

Are you working to live or living to work? Have you ever really taken the time to define the impact you want to make in your job, your industry and your community? If not, don’t be surprised if you’re not happy. If you’re like most design-build pros with too many tasks and too little time, you’ve probably not had the time to contemplate these types of big-picture questions too often…if at all. Yet, as DeWayne Ables with Pioneer IQ tells us, having a personal and professional vision is vital to our industry’s success. DeWayne is one of DBIA’s most popular conference presenters. So, if you’ve missed him in person, this episode of Design-Build Delivers gives you a chance to hear his insightful tips on creating and fulfilling your personal vision of career success.

Where were you in 1993? DBIA goes back to the future and talks to two long-time design-builders about the industry’s past, present and future as we celebrate the Design-Build Institute of America’s 25th anniversary. Design-build growth continues nationwide, are you ready for what the future holds for our industry?

Progressive Design-Build is the talk of the design-build industry. But what is it really and how does an Owner know if a progressive approach fits their project? In this episode, we talk to Geoff Neumayr, the Chief Development Officer at San Francisco International Airport, about the SFO’s long-history with delivering impressive design-build projects and especially their use of progressive. The airport is in the midst of a massive $7 billion capital program where design-build and progressive are helping transform San Francisco International. Geoff shares some lessons-learned and design-build wisdom built over decades of project experience as a designer, builder, owner’s representative and now as an owner.

We all know how important building a high-performing team is to delivering successful design-build projects. However, chances are pretty good, we can all tell stories about those teams you knew were doomed to fail from the beginning. So, what is the secret sauce that can make the difference between that project team you can’t wait to leave and the one that led to lifelong friendships and collaborations? In this episode we talk to Brent Darnell, a pioneer in bringing emotional intelligence education to the construction industry. Brent’s an author, speaker and principal of Darnell International. His programs span the globe helping companies build successful teams by better understanding what makes a good team member.

From the Design-Build Institute of America, this is Design-Build Delivers, a show about the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry’s fastest growing delivery method…design-build.