Progressive Design Build

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Author Message David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2054 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, October 30, 2023 - 05:06 pm:    What are you thoughts/experiences on Progressive Design Build type projects? David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC John Bunzick Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1928 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Monday, October 30, 2023 - 05:08 pm:    I'm not sure I know what that is. Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 920 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Monday, October 30, 2023 - 07:48 pm:    The AIA has a good article about Progressive Design Build verses Traditional Design Build. Link: https://learn.aiacontracts.com/articles/6508632-whats-so-progressive-about-progressive-design-build/ In a nutshell, PDB seems to allow the owner to pick its partners on a qualification basis rather than cost basis. Per that article, it states, "...allows the owner to have greater control and involvement throughout development of the design and budget. As far as budget is concerned, unlike in a TDB project, the final GMP is typically not reached until the design is nearing completion. Rather, as the design progresses, the design-build contractor provides preliminary guaranteed maximum price at various milestones throughout the project until the final GMP is established." Nathan Woods, RA, CSI, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: nwoods Post Number: 921 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Monday, October 30, 2023 - 07:49 pm:    In answer to David's question, most of my healthcare projects are PDB, with a few old fashioned DBB projects still in the mix. PDB is definitely the majority in number of projects and construction dollars represented Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 777 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - 09:39 am:    We are seeing an increasing number of K12 projects going in this direction - rather like CMAR but with the AE working for the constructor. As long as communication is good, the projects seem to be working. Phil Kabza FCSI CCS AIA SpecGuy Specifications Consultants www.SpecGuy.com phil@specguy.com David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2055 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 - 05:17 pm:    I am currently working on a PDB project for a trade school project. My invoice payment went from 2-3 weeks for non PDB projects with this architect to 4 months for this PDB project. When I asked the architect, she said the contractor is still reviewing my invoices. Also, the design team was told to stop at 70% CDs. My guess is the contrator will build the building off that set. So I don't get my full fee. The architect told me that they and the owner are not thrilled with PDB. It seems that every few years someone tries to reinvent the wheel. Before PDB it was GCCM which was way more difficult for the design team. I will not write specifications for PDB projects. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 778 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2023 - 10:49 am:    I recall the great marketing campaign announcing that Design-Build was the wave of the future - coincidentally carried out by the DBIA. Once the initial reactions started to trickle in, there was a consensus that the successful projects were those where the parties were experienced and had worked with each other successfully in the past. The PDB projects we are currently on consist of some familiar teams and a couple not-so-familiar teams. The not-so-familiar ones scare me, because the architects seem like victims rather than leaders. BTW David: Maybe try one of these projects next time, but lock your PDFs with headers or watermarks that read NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. Then require your full fee to issue a set acceptable for permit. Phil Kabza FCSI CCS AIA SpecGuy Specifications Consultants www.SpecGuy.com phil@specguy.com David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: david_axt Post Number: 2056 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, November 01, 2023 - 02:37 pm:    Phil, For some reason school districts are eager to adopt the latest fashion trend. I guess they think they will get a building better/faster/cheaper than good old tried-and-true Design-Bid-Build. I will not do another Progressive Design-Build. I also don't want to play games with my specifications. If the contractor builds off my incomplete specifications, then fine. We will see what happens. Also, they will never be able to sue me because the specifications were incomplete. It even says "70% CD Set" in the footer. David G. Axt, CDT, CCS, CSI, SCIP Specifications Consultant Axt Consulting LLC