My Design/Build Coach Articles for Remodeling and Design/Build Professionals
	Solving Design Issues Before They Become Build Issues
	When you hear the phrase "Design/Build" you may visualize one sweeping activity without any clear distinction between the design part and the build part. And it is true that this system of project delivery is more holistic than, for example, bid-build. But clearly, there are distinct functions of the designer and the builder, the trick is having one flow into the other seamlessly.  In the design/build model of construction, the designer bears the brunt of responsibility for creating well-thought out building plans that are both financially and practically viable. Because this is the case, special attention needs to be given to how the design will work in the real world. The other important thing to keep in mind is that the contractor is the one who comes up with the ultimate cost of the project and if the designer is not communicating with him or her chaos can ensue. Think of it as trying to have a global discussion at the United Nations without the aid of translators.  Even with the best of design/build intentions, if the participants are unwilling to cross their professional divides, the chances of success are slim. You know how obstinate some professionals can be when it comes to their work. For example, the design professional who is wed to his design and cannot bear to alter it for mere reasons of cost or logistics. Or the builder who alters plans based solely on how he can cut corners or eliminate "difficult" design.  I'm reminded of the story I heard recently from a contractor friend of mine regarding the referral he got from a design professional. The architect called the contractor saying he had a job for him and he wanted to use design/build for the project. Everything started out fine as design meetings were held jointly with the builder, architect and homeowners present. A clear budget range was established and plans were drawn up. The problem arose when the contractor was delivering the contract to the homeowner and had specified pier foundations as opposed to the frost wall foundation indicated on the architect's plan. On the homeowner's front lawn, the two got into a heated discussion about the virtues of each one's plan. The contractor explained that the frost wall foundation would throw the cost over budget. The architect was firmly entrenched in his design and was convinced that the homeowners would pay for the additional cost, given the aesthetic implications of them not ponying up the extra cash.  Now this saga is still being told, so I do not have an ending to the story yet. However, it illustrates the constant struggle between aesthetics and budget, design and construction. At least in this tale, construction had not begun and no one ended up being unpleasantly surprised with the results. Speaking of which… I know of at least one project where the design did not meet the needs of the client and/or the project went over budget because of alternations to design that happened while under construction. One such project looked beautiful on paper, but somehow the client failed to recognize that there would be a brick chimney running right through the center of the room. I state emphatically that this was not a design/build project. Fortunately for the design professional, the homeowners were off-beat and they thought the monolith in the middle of their bedroom added whimsy to the space. To add insult to injury, though, the cost of this project kept on going up as design adjustments or adaptations had to be made while under construction.  While communication is the cornerstone of successful design/build, it does not mean that all information is for the client's consumption. The design professional must use discretion and tact in making design recommendations that affect budget. Sometimes you can discuss options freely in front of the client, but other times it is best to find out the monetary considerations that affect construction before sharing ideas with the client. As with any relationship, that between designer and builder will improve over time as each gains more experience with the other. If thought, communication and innovation go into the project from the time before the first design meeting right through construction, there is no reason why any one should be dissatisfied with the end result
	SOLVING DESIGN ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME BUILD ISSUES By Joseph Dellanno Remodeling News March 15, 2001