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Engineering & Construction · Glossary

Design-Build

Design-build is a project delivery method where one entity holds a single contract for both design and construction. It compresses schedules and reduces the owner's coordination risk compared with traditional design-bid-build.

Design-build shifts more responsibility and risk to the builder, which rewards firms with strong preconstruction and integrated teams. It now accounts for a large share of US nonresidential construction, especially in infrastructure and industrial work.

In practice

In the engineering and construction industry, design-build involves architects, engineers, and contractors collaborating closely under a single contract. This integrated approach streamlines decision-making, allowing teams to address design and construction issues simultaneously, which accelerates project timelines. Commercially, this method minimizes delays and cost overruns, making it attractive to owners who seek predictable budgeting and efficient execution. By consolidating responsibilities, design-build reduces the risk of miscommunication and enhances overall project delivery.

Where Design-Build shows up on MarketScale

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