Some would attest that design-build has been the preferred project delivery process for mechanical contractors in the industrial and commercial markets, taking precedence over other processes such as plan-and-spec, which involve the "low bid" scenario. Design-build involves a single point of responsibility to the owner for on-time and on-budget jobs because the design is agreed to up front.
The News asked its contractor consultants to comment on some of the nuances of the design-build process. Their input provides a look inside some of the pros and cons of the process and what other contractors should look for if they are interested in adding design-build to their business model.