Use of Design/Build in E/C Industry

Abstract

The concept of design/build was investigated as part of a research project that studied the drivers and trends that will affect U.S. engineering and construction industry competitiveness in the next decade. The research results were presented as the keynote address at the Design/Build America conference in Washington, D.C., in March of 1994, sponsored by the Design/Build Institute. This paper summarizes the keynote presentation and provides additional information on the use of design/build in the future. The paper discusses several different issues that emerged from the research effort on the further implementation of design/build processes by U.S. engineering and construction (E/C) firms. The areas presented include the influence of design/build on the E/C industry; potential changes in the E/C industry for firms, clients, contracting strategies, and projects; the focus of clients, which leads to design/build; advantages and disadvantages to owners of the design/build approach, types of clients who use design/build projects; strategies for design/build firms to remain competitive; new firm configurations; factors required for the success of projects; and marketing strategies for design/build firms.