Why Every Design-Build Project Needs an Owner's Project Manager

Embarking on a large-scale construction project can be overwhelming. Faced with the complexity of managing designers, contractors, budgets, schedules, and countless decisions, some Owners may be drawn to the “Design-Build” approach.

The Design-Build delivery method is a model in which both architectural design and construction services are performed by a single entity. Consolidating design and building functions under one contract can simplify communication, streamline decision-making, and accelerate project delivery.

While the Design-Build model certainly offers its advantages, without the independent oversight and advocacy provided by an Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), employing this approach alone can leave Owners exposed to some of the pitfalls that inevitably impact any construction project.

Checks and Balances

Perhaps the greatest limitation of relying solely on a Design-Build delivery method is the model’s inherent lack of checks and balances.

Traditionally, Architects, Engineers and General Contractors have independent, distinct responsibilities wherein each party reviews, verifies and, occasionally, challenges one another’s approach or decisions:

• Architects enforce the integrity of their design throughout construction. They verify that the work performed by the General Contractor is in accordance with the original design and identify any non-conforming work.

• General Contractors review the Architect’s plans and identify any impracticalities, errors, omissions, and/or ambiguities in the design.

• Engineers ensure that both the Architect’s plans and the General Contractor’s execution of the design do not compromise the build’s structural integrity, safety or code compliance.

  
  

When the distinct roles of the Architect, Engineer and General Contractor all fall under the purview of one entity, the natural system of checks and balances that exists when independent parties are responsible for different aspects of a project is compromised.

Concentrating all decision-making authority in a single entity compromises the natural system of checks and balances that exists when independent parties are responsible for different aspects of a project.

Without an OPM serving as the Owner’s advocate, an Owner must rely on a single organization to make all critical decisions affecting project scope, design, cost, schedule, and quality. By contrast, when an OPM is retained, the recommendations and decisions made by Architects, Engineers and General Contractors are thoroughly evaluated and scrutinized by an independent, objective third party—thereby restoring the essential system of checks and balances that are lacking in a strict Design-Build approach.

Competitive Bidding

In the traditional Design-Bid-Build delivery method, an Architect develops the project design, General Contractors submit bids to build the project, and the Owner evaluates the bids and selects the General Contractor best suited to execute the project. The Design-Build model, however, skips over the critical bidding phase.

The competitive bidding process is among the most crucial phases of a construction project. Through the review and comparison of different General Contractor bids, Owners gain insight not only into project costs, but also into each General Contractor’s responsiveness, qualifications, and understanding of project scope.

An OPM bridges the gap left by the absence of a bidding process in the Design-Build approach. By bringing market knowledge, construction expertise, and objective oversight to the table, the OPM ensures that project pricing is reasonable, contract terms are favorable, and the project remains aligned with the Owner's objectives.

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While delivery methods may vary, the Owner's need for independent representation does not.

At DeAngelis Group, we work exclusively for you, the Owner. Our role as an OPM is to provide experienced guidance, objective oversight, and accountability from planning through project completion—so you can move forward with confidence knowing that both your interests and your investment are protected.