Design-Build

Yes, budget control does begin during the schematic design and design developement process.

It must be designer who leads this process, but the building is the one who can provide actual cost differnces to the designer for budget control.

The difficulty with this approach, architect or builder, is that it continues to foster the adversarial roles we have lived with for years in architecture. It is a lot like marriage, not you or me but us. If we allow each to have input in all matters then the client benefits and that is our goal. Good design is important but it must fit the budget.

Our design build approach is to prepare the scope then have a joint meeting with the construction arm and the key sub-contractors; steel, PME.

Explaining the scope and our concepts to start with allows the construction arm to see the project. Then they help build the "cost box" we must work in.

In this manner I do not have to re-design. The owner is involved with these discussions so he knows why we do certain things on the design side. The final outcome is a client that is pleased with what our design looks like, pleased because it is within the budget and pleased because his scope has been met.

Everyone must trust the other team members to have the whole project in mind, not just their part. It must be a Three Musketeers approach, "One for all and all for one"!

The success of our firm has been the true integration of the design and build side. Trust and confidence from both sides allows true collaboration. Of our three partners, one is an architect, one is a contractor and one is the business manager.