ACI has always strived to be at the forefront of innovation in the construction industry. This includes new ways of organizing projects. Today, we are sitting down with George Ray, President and Owner of ACI, to talk about a more in-depth understanding of their streamlined design-build process. 

*Remarks have been edited for clarity*

“Design-build is a project delivery method that kind of takes the place of design-bid-build. What it does is creates a team of the designer, architect, engineer, and contractor in an effort to streamline the process and reduce cost and eliminate errors and confrontations during a project. We have used design-build for every type of project out there. There really isn’t a project that would not allow design-build to be used. Even more recently, with the use of design-build and municipal projects, or government projects, we’ve partnered with Sourcewell which allows us now to do design-build with government entities. So really, design-build replaces the standard design-bid-build that a lot of people are familiar with. The benefits of design-build, as I mentioned earlier, are time savings and cost savings. That’s achieved because during the design process you have all the entities involved. You set up meetings with the owner, with the architect, with the engineer, with the contractor. We come together as a team and we look at all the different options for materials and methods of construction for a particular type of project and really come to a conclusion as to what’s the best for that project. And by everybody buying into it, there’s no animosity about “well this would have worked better, that would have worked better.” Again, that team approach saves you time and it in the long run saves cost because you know everybody decided on a method upfront.

Thank you for watching. we appreciate your time and if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to look at our website or give us a call, we certainly can help.”

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The premise behind the design-build process is, first and foremost, to streamline and improve the design and construction phases of projects for the benefit of the client. Design-build firms work to decrease inconvenience and unnecessary spending in order to get your business looking like you want it to within the timeline and budget you need. So what exactly does the design-build process look like, and how does it work for the best interest of you, the client?

Dollars and Design

In the beginning stages of a project, the details need to be ironed out between you, the design team, and the construction team. These details mainly revolve around concept and cost. Luckily, since the designer and contractor are working together from the start, these specifics can be agreed upon early and accurately. Layout and style can be selected, while decisions on energy efficiency and the cost of those additional offices you want can be calculated simultaneously.

Preparation and Pre-Construction

Materials can be ordered while items are selected, and any potential hiccups can be discussed, preventing financial surprises that sometimes pop up along the way. Your firm can present final options for design plans along with mechanical plans so that you can look at the layout along with logistics. With design-build, the scope and schedule of the work are put into place before construction even begins.

During the preparation phase, expect any additional fees and zoning issues to be addressed, along with the final design decisions. The design-build firm meets with you to confirm all of the major and minor details, and these meetings should include members from both the design end and construction end of the project together.

Construction and Completion

During the construction phase, designers and builders work in tandem with one another to incorporate all of your requests and collaborate toward a completed product. The plans and proposals are followed closely, and the client is continuously kept in the loop on the progress of the project without disruption. Once final materials and touches are acquired and applied, the project is completed within a timeframe budget that has been agreed upon by all parties and perfected until everyone is satisfied. Now you get to go enjoy your beautiful facility that has been created just the way you imagined.

To discover more about what the design-build process will look like for your next project, contact Associated Contractors today.