Design-Build
A project delivery method where a single entity, the design-builder, holds one contract with the owner covering both design and construction, replacing the traditional arrangement of separate contracts with an architect and a general contractor.
Why it matters
Combining design and construction under one contract shifts risk and responsibility differently than the traditional approach: the owner has a single point of accountability for both the design and the build, which can speed up delivery but changes how disputes over design errors get resolved compared to [[concept-design-bid-build|design-bid-build]].
On a real project
A developer hires a single design-build firm to both design and construct a new distribution warehouse, rather than hiring an architect to design it first and then bidding the finished design out to separate general contractors.
Who this matters most to
A Preconstruction Manager gets involved much earlier on a design-build project, often participating directly in design decisions to keep the project constructible and on budget from day one. A Project Manager manages a single integrated team instead of coordinating between a separate architect and contractor.
Where this goes wrong
An owner chooses design-build assuming it will automatically be faster and cheaper, without realizing that having one point of accountability also means less independent oversight of the design; with no separate architect representing the owner's interests, a design-build firm has more room to make design decisions that favor its own construction efficiency over what the owner actually wanted.