Design-assist is not without potential drawbacks. Here are some common concerns—and how your Building Team can reassure clients that DA is worth considering.
OWNER CONCERN: Lack of familiarity with design-assist. DA is a relatively new delivery model. Architects and CMs may have a tendency to revert back to traditional roles.
PLAN OF ACTION: Although the DA process produces a more efficient, collaborative design process, care must be taken to ensure that the collaborative process continues throughout construction. During construction, there are inevitable owner concerns. That’s why it’s important to have established a process to address these changes. The collaborative process can be used to resolve challenges in a quick, cost-effective manner.
OWNER CONCERN: Subcontract administration. The subcontractor might not perform as expected or fall out of line with the budget.
PLAN OF ACTION: It is important to administer a preconstruction contract with the DA subcontractor, which allows the owner to terminate the agreement at any time prior to construction. This acts as a safeguard when a subcontractor’s pricing is not in line with the budget, and there is no reasonable way to get to the budget; in such a case, the owner would have reasonable cause to terminate the subcontractor’s contract. In this situation the trade package would need to be bid, which could push back the schedule depending on the selection process.
OWNER CONCERN: Obtaining competitive pricing. Some owners believe early involvement with subcontractors and the construction manager in the project precludes them from receiving competitive bids.
PLAN OF ACTION: Because the construction team is hired early in the design phase, the Building Team can obtain benchmark prices during the programming phase, making competitive pricing feasible. The Building Team can also obtain nonbinding preliminary price proposals during the DA selection process based on initial plans, such as schematic drawings; binding final prices can be submitted upon completion of the plans.
OWNER CONCERN: Added costs of the DA process. Design-assist may add time and cost to the design phase of the project due to additional collaboration with subcontractors and added time to procure services.
PLAN OF ACTION: The reductions achieved in construction cost and schedule should offset additional costs during the design phases, making design-assist advantageous overall.
OWNER CONCERN: Design liability. Greater collaboration among the architect, engineer, subcontractors, and construction manager might raise questions about who has responsibilities and design liability throughout the process.
PLAN OF ACTION: The project team should clearly set obligations and liabilities of the team members with respect to plans, specifications, and the building information model (if applicable) to overcome this concern. You should also develop a design-assist execution plan to identify roles, responsibilities, and deliverables for all team members.
Related Stories
Coronavirus | May 20, 2022
Center for Green Schools says U.S. schools need more support to fight COVID-19
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council released a new report detailing how school districts around the country have managed air quality within their buildings during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regulations | May 20, 2022
Biden’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge aims to reduce COVID-19 spread
The Biden Administration recently launched the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge that calls on all building owners and operators, schools, colleges and universities, and organizations to adopt strategies to improve indoor air quality in their buildings and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Building Team | May 20, 2022
Caltech breaks ground on a new center to study climate and sustainability
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) recently broke ground on its Resnick Sustainability Resource Center.
Laboratories | May 20, 2022
Brutalist former Berkeley Art Museum transformed into modern life science lab
After extensive renovation and an addition, the former Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive at the University of California, Berkeley campus reopened in May 2022 as a modern life science lab building.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 19, 2022
Northern Arizona University opens a new training center for its student athletes
In Flagstaff, Ariz. Northern Arizona University (NAU) has opened its new Student-Athlete High Performance Center.
Energy-Efficient Design | May 19, 2022
Shipping containers used to build Research Triangle Park’s first community gathering space
Shipping containers were the prominent building material used to construct Boxyard RTP, the first public community and gathering place in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park (RTP).
Mixed-Use | May 19, 2022
Seattle-area project will turn mall into residential neighborhood
A recently unveiled plan will transform a 463,000 sf mall into a mixed-use destination site in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Wash.
Codes and Standards | May 19, 2022
JLL launches non-profit aiming to mitigate climate change
Real estate and investment management firm JLL recently launched JLL Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to making a long-term impact on environmental sustainability.
Office Buildings | May 19, 2022
JLL releases its 2022 Office Fit Out Guide
JLL’s 2022 Office Fit Out Guide report provides benchmark costs to build out a range of office types across major markets in the United States and Canada.
Biophilic Design | May 18, 2022
Horticulturalists conduct research study to understand the value of biophilic design
Benholm Group, horticulturalists that have pioneered the use of plants for interiors over the past 27 years, are collaborating on a research study to understand the value of biophilic design, according to a news release.
