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WDBC Releasing Research Report on Growth of Collaborative Delivery - Stay Tuned!

Continuing its ongoing research on the growth of the use of collaborative delivery methods in the water industry, the WDBC focused its 2018 study on answering three key questions.

Within the broad envelope of water and wastewater collaborative delivery, can we observe trends over the last few years in terms of numbers of projects, total project value, or market share for three basic alternatives: fixed-price design-build, progressive design-build, and construction management at-risk?
Given these trends, can we reasonably forecast these same market segments over the next few years?
Can we identify the main drivers of these market trends?

WDBC’s 2018 research is an extension of its 2017 study characterizing the broad market for design-build delivery of water and wastewater projects. In 2017, WDBC concluded that design-build delivery of water and wastewater projects grew steadily since about 2013 to about $4.3 billion annually in 2016 and was expected to increase at an even faster pace at least through 2021, with a forecasted total market size of $6.1 billion in that year. More data will be available in the March report.

Introducing WDBC 2nd Vice President & Secretary, Michael B. Watson, PE

Michael B. Watson, PE, Stantec's Senior Vice President, Water, is the Second Vice President/Secretary on the WDBC Board of Directors. Based in Sacramento, California, Mike draws on the global resources and talents of the company to create high-performing design teams who partner with contractors and developers to successfully deliver design-build and P3 water and wastewater treatment, water resources, and conveyance projects across North America.

Prior to this position, Mike was the West Division Director for MWH Americas Engineering and Technical Services (ETS) with P&L, revenue growth, and project delivery responsibility for a $150M-per-year, 500-person professional services unit. He specializes in team-building, strategic pursuits, risk management, claim management and negotiations, and executive engagement.

WDBC Welcomes Two Regular Members

Garney Construction is a national leader in water and wastewater construction. Since 1961, they've focused on building water and wastewater systems of all sizes for municipal, federal, industrial, and private clients. Garney is a 100% employee-owned company with more than 1,500 employee-owners located across the United States. They specialize in collaborative project delivery solutions, including design-build and CMAR, for clients nationwide. Over the past two decades, Garney has constructed more than 635 collaborative delivery projects totaling $5 billion in construction value.

Representing Garney on the WDBC Board of Directors is Mark A. Kelly. Mark’s career has been focused solely in water and wastewater construction for the past 32 years. His experience has been both in the field constructing projects, along with managing and directing estimating teams in the preparation of cost estimates and proposals. He has in-depth experience using collaborative project delivery (CMAR, design-build & P3) and focuses on that as Garney’s Director of Business Development. Mark’s knowledge of water and wastewater treatment plants coupled with his experience in cost estimating and value engineering make him an invaluable resource to Garney’s clients.

Previously a WDBC advisor member, The Walsh Group (Walsh Construction and Archer Western) is a 121-year-old, family-owned business in its fourth generation of leadership providing general contracting and collaborative delivery services including progressive design-build and construction management at-risk. Through the operations of subsidiaries Walsh Construction and Archer Western, The Walsh Group is ranked by Engineering News-Record as the nation’s largest water and desalination treatment builder, largest wastewater treatment builder, and largest water supply system builder.

Walsh consistently delivers a safety-minded culture, forward-thinking water treatment technologies, and collaborative delivery solutions for the most complex water and wastewater infrastructure challenges. The company has invested over $500 million in capital equipment and employs more than 5,000 engineers and skilled tradesmen.

Also joining the WDBC Board of Directors is former Advisor Member Roy Epps. Roy is the Senior Vice President of Water and Wastewater at The Walsh Group and oversees its North American water division. Epps provides leadership across all projects by consulting with owners, monitoring project progress, and supervising and reviewing operations. Roy has 35 years of experience in water and wastewater construction, and spent the last 17 years leading The Walsh Group’s West Water Region. Roy specializes in collaborative delivery projects, having completed nearly $800 million of construction manager at-risk and design-build work.

Closing the Gap with Design-Build for Water Infrastructure

By John Mitchell, Process Tech Director, Burns & McDonnell

Today’s global infrastructure investment, estimated to be $2.5 trillion per year, falls short of the $3.3 trillion annual investment needed to keep pace with expected growth, not to mention renewal of existing aging infrastructure. With funding flat or declining, new ways of increasing productivity by streamlining project delivery are needed, according to a 2016 report from McKinsey & Company, “Bridging Global Infrastructure Gaps.” The report also states that improving project selection and maximizing existing assets could result in cost savings as high as 40 percent, which would help close the gap. But just how can streamlining project delivery lead to increased productivity — particularly in the case of complex water and wastewater projects?

WDBC E-NEWS – FEBRUARY 28, 2019

Issue Highlights

WDBC Releasing Research Report on Growth of Collaborative Delivery - Stay Tuned!

Introducing WDBC 2nd Vice President & Secretary, Michael B. Watson, PE

WDBC Welcomes Two Regular Members

Closing the Gap with Design-Build for Water Infrastructure

Member Companies