Water Design-Build Council Blog

The single most important factor for ensuring the success of the collaboration process is the careful selection of the individuals involved. This is perhaps even more critical in construction management-at-risk project delivery than in other design-build delivery methods due to the nature of the contracting arrangements.

Several of our industry’s best collaborative-delivery methods— namely construction management at-risk (CMAR) and progressive design-build — rely on an open-book process for developing cost and pricing during preconstruction.

The single most important factor for ensuring the success of the collaboration process is the careful selection of the individuals involved. This is perhaps even more critical in construction management-at-risk project delivery than in other design-build delivery methods due to the nature of the contracting arrangements.

This week’s blog recap focuses on construction management at-risk. If you’re not familiar with this collaborative delivery method, or afraid that it might not work for your projects, take some time to explore these blogs, as well as others on the WDBC website, and see for yourself how this delivery method can be to your benefit. 

This is the second in a series of three blogs about employing best practices in collaborative delivery methods such as design-build and Construction Management At-Risk (CMAR).

When faithfully applied, these best practices provide superior project results. Today’s blog will focus on contracts and contracting best practices.

Perhaps the most important element of a sound design-build contract is the fair and equitable allocation of risk. Early in the life of the project (during the programming and planning phase), owners should seek industry and stakeholder input to cooperatively identify project-specific risks and how those risks will be addressed.

If you’re an owner looking to engage in a more collaborative delivery process (than that of design-bid-build), but not confident that your organization is prepared to pursue a design-build procurement process, then the delivery method identified as Construction Management at-Risk (CMAR) could be the right fit for your project.

An interview with Ryan Adler of Crossland Heavy Construction.

Several of our industry’s best collaborative-delivery methods— namely construction management at-risk (CMAR) and progressive design-build — rely on an open-book process for developing cost and pricing during preconstruction.

In design-build delivery, the construction management at-risk (CMAR) firm’s ability to provide real-time services in an integrated and collaborative environment, is key to delivering the project on a reliable schedule and with a higher level of assurance of meeting the GMP during preconstruction services.

Throughout the North America’s design-build industry, there are a number of project delivery models that are successfully used for the design, construction and operation of water and water reclamation facilities.