What is Design-Build Construction?
Design-build construction is a project delivery method where a single entity, the design-builder, provides both design and construction services. This integrated approach streamlines your project from start to finish, delivering key benefits in cost, schedule, communication, and quality. Instead of coordinating separate architects, engineers, and builders, you gain one accountable partner who makes the process smoother and more predictable.
How Design-Build Works
With DBS Group, your project progresses through a connected process where each stage builds upon the last. This integration keeps your project on track with fewer surprises, stronger communication, and consistent accountability.
- Predevelopment — site selection assistance, code studies, feasibility study coordination, due diligence coordination, and entitlement management provide a successful pathway forward.
- Store Planning — fixture, equipment, and merchandising layouts and strategies tailored to your operations for efficiency and performance.
- Architecture & Engineering — creative yet practical design and engineering services coordinated with constructability and compliance in mind.
- Preconstruction — early and accurate budgeting, scheduling, and cost modeling to support informed decisions and provide budget and schedule certainty.
- Construction — coordinated construction execution that delivers quality and safety on time and on budget.
Explore more about Predevelopment, Store Planning, Architecture & Engineering, Preconstruction, and Construction to see how they work together within design-build construction
Why Do So Many Owners Choose Design-Build Over Traditional Design-Bid-Build Construction?
Design-build gives owners a clear advantage: projects move faster, costs are more predictable, and accountability rests with a single partner. Here’s what that means for you:
- One accountable partner. You work with a single team that provides planning, design, preconstruction, and construction services from concept to completion.
- Faster time to market. Overlapping phases shorten project schedules, helping you deliver to market sooner and generate revenue faster.
- Reliable budgets. Early and often estimating collaboration allows for real-time decision-making during the design phase, providing budget certainty for your project.
- Stronger teamwork. Designers and builders work side by side from day one, preventing delays and costly redesigns.
Review the table below to compare the design-build process with the traditional design-bid-build process.
Affiliations
- Associated General Contractors of Minnesota
- Associated General Contractors of WI
- Design Build Institute of America
- Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA)
- Minnesota Commercial Association of Real Estate/Realtors
- National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
- US Green Building Council
Design-Build vs. Traditional Construction
Understanding the differences between design-build construction and traditional design-bid-build is key to selecting the right approach for your project. Here’s a side-by-side look at how the two approaches compare:
| Design-Build (DBS Group) | Design-Bid-Build (Traditional) | |
|---|---|---|
| Process | One contract, one point of contact. Design and construction are fully integrated. | Separate contracts for design and construction. Owner manages multiple parties. |
| Timeline | Faster delivery. Design and construction phases overlap, reducing downtime. | Slower delivery. Each phase happens sequentially, extending project duration. |
| Cost certainty | Early collaboration ensures realistic budgets and fewer change orders. | Budgets often shift after bidding, with higher risk of cost overruns. |
| Communication | Streamlined — you work with a single partner accountable for the entire project. | Fragmented — you coordinate between designers, contractors, and consultants. |
| Risk | Lower risk. Shared goals and integrated teams reduce disputes and surprises. | Higher risk. Unaligned interests can lead to conflicts and project delays. |
| Value | Greater efficiency, accountability, and alignment with your vision. | Less efficient, more complex, and higher potential for disputes. |