Page 15 - REI Corporate Newsletter (Q2_2018)

do not of training or expertise, managing design has all the are typical construction risks, a faulty design can and
same mechanics as managing any aspect of the
will be fixed by the processes and habits suggested
work. The one condition; however, is realizing that the
below. A well-documented, agreed-to design that is
signed off by the Owner eliminates most of this risk.
activities in the Design Phase are alien to most of the
other work when running projects.
Design is often quoted as a single activity – we design
First, we address risk in Design+Build through a it once. If you change it, you pay to have it redone.
raw view. This is not a harbinger of bad things that Based on our experience, design changes average
will happen in a Design+Build delivery; but, rather a 5-10% of the total cost, this is not including job delays.
forecast of what lies ahead in order to plan, contract, However, this is not unlike any other activity we
and manage accordingly. undertake in construction. Change is change. What
we do about change, vis a vis cost or extension, is
Builders will often express that having outside where we financially make or break a job.
engineers on projects transfers risk to the consultant.

what you Design cannot be consumed as a product.

Design is a process and defines the work

completely control build for the cost and schedule we expect.
we intend to build. Design enables the

By Bill Mazzetti, Senior VP of Engineering This is obvious, but flawed for E&O situations and is The first phase of design is Definition. Definition
often used to contain cost or to secure services that provides enough detail and intention to provide an
are not in-house. Several misconceptions come along estimated cost of construction, schedule, and direction
All projects have to start somewhere. While Design+Build delivery with this. for the final design. In short, Definition directs where
the Design needs to go.
offers substantial benefits, the starting point is Design. Design+Build In signing a Design+Build contract, the contractor During the bid process, we often receive preliminary
bears 100% of the design risk -- regardless if it is
is a series of processes that transports a client from intention to an internal or external engineering organization. engineering documents such as single lines, layouts,

realization on their projects. It sounds easy. . . and it often is. Most consultants offer very low liability coverage, specs, or a basis of design that defines where the
design should start; and sometimes we provide it.
or lack adequate insurance for large Design+Build
projects. Even with a CCIP or OCIP program in place, Regardless, the preliminary work in the Definition
negligence can, and will be, clawed back along the Phase is usually the same, regardless of the building
Let's start with the definition of the project, the unorganized, and risky when placed under the contracting lines. Any liability will flow through the type or trade. If it is not there, be cautious.
Design Phase, and keys to success for defining, microscope of a highly compressed schedule. General Contractor and subconsultant first, then to
designing, and coordinating the design with But this can be said about any project. the outside engineer. Any excess claim, above the A mistake often made is not analyzing and
the modeling and subsequent construction limits we contracted for (often limited to the fees paid determining where the gaps may be in these
effort. There are no magic tricks here – just In the Design Phase, there are three discrete on the project), would fall to the contractor. While you documents. The first activity in the Definition Phase
communication, cooperation, and a good activities – Definition, Design, and Coordination. think you are transferring risk and cost to the outside of design is to discover where the gaps or conflicts
process. Regardless of the project or delivery method, engineer, you are actually limiting their liability. So are in these documents. While these set out the
these three activities are ALWAYS present (key how do you get into trouble on a Design+Build job? design intent, they do not dictate the final design. Our
Often, Design+Build is the adopted project control points for cost, constructibility, schedule, Design will accomplish that. There is the freedom
delivery model due to speed or perceived risk. and coordination will be touched on throughout There are three ways trouble arises: 1. it does not of Design+Build to deliver a project that honors the
Dismissing risk, Design+Build can look frantic, this article). While this may not be your basis work, 2. it is late, 3. it is broken. While the latter two Definition of the work, but is cast in a manner that

14 The Feeder | Issue 2, 2018 Issue 2, 2018 | The Feeder 15