The Traditional Method
The Design-Bid-Build model is one of the more traditional delivery models with few advantages and provides the highest risk profile to owners. One advantage to Design-Bid-Build contracts is that they offer design freedom, as owners hire and work with their desired architects. In addition, they get to hold a multi-bidder competitive selection process that is based on lowest cost. However, since the design phase does not involve contractors, it eliminates the opportunity for constructibility input, continual budget updates, value-engineering, and the vetting of design documents. This increases the chance of change orders, cost overruns, and blown schedules.