4 Construction Problems Design Build Can Solve

The Design Build method of construction is gaining traction and popularity throughout North America. This tactic involves contractors and designers working together throughout the entire construction process. The project owner therefore hires one entity instead of two separate parties.

There are many reasons that this strategy is gaining popularity so quickly and has an annual growth rate of 18%. Here are just a few of the roadblocks and problems that Design Build can help construction professionals solve.

1. Rising Costs

It is no secret that the cost of materials key to construction is rising. Petroleum, iron, steel, and lumber are seeing a high rate of inflation, and total cost of projects rose over five percent in just one year.

However, when implementing Design Build, sites can see up to nearly 2% lower unit costs compared to other methods of construction. They’ve also experienced between 2.4% and 3.8% less cost growth when using this strategy.

These numbers may seem small, but they can make a significant impact on the bottom line.

2. Falling Behind Schedule

Because Design Build keeps all parties unified and on the same track from the beginning, it alleviates the risk of conflict delaying the build. By keeping contractors and designers on the same team, there is little chance of miscommunication or different goals derailing a build schedule.

In fact, Design Build can be up to 36% quicker than other methods. It also results in nearly 4% less schedule growth.

This can allow all parties to complete more projects within a set schedule, which is lucrative across the board.

3. Environmental Concerns

With the lower costs and shorter timeframes that Design Build offers, there is more space to incorporate sustainability and environmentally-sound options into a project.

On top of those opportunities, a quicker build simply means less emissions and fuel burned over the course of a project.

Design Build is also a great option when responding to weather-related incidents. As we’re seeing an increase in frequency and strength of storms and fires, a quicker rebuild rate will help the affected parties to regain a sense of normalcy as soon as possible.

4. The Labor Shortage

The construction industry is experiencing a labor shortage across the board. There simply are not enough skilled candidates to fill the plethora of available positions in the market.

As construction professionals vie for top talent to work on their projects, any perk they can offer will make a difference. For many of these candidates, a shorter build time could help tip the scales in your favor.

Additionally, the cost saving you experience via Design Build can free up some of your budget to present top talent with a more enticing offer. If you navigate this carefully, you can do this and still have an extremely favorable bottom line.

If you’d like more insight into construction trends, please browse our Michael Page advice section. You can also reach out to one of our expert consultants do discuss potential hiring solutions.