Why Design-Build Is the Smartest Choice for Your Space

For a client looking to redo or upgrade their space, going through a general contractor may seem like the way to go. However, going down the general contract path can lead to complications with deadlines, budgets, and overall satisfaction. Instead, consider a design-build project, with one point of accountability. While general contract work for lighting upgrades is the typical path, a design-build project can deliver a quicker timeline, lower costs, and a space tailored to your needs. Read more below to understand the differences between general contract and design-build projects as well as the benefits of choosing the latter.

General Contract Vs. Design-Build: Key Differences

The first step in understanding what is best for your project is understanding what the different processes are for general contract (or also known as design-bid-build) projects and for design build.

General Contract Process

1. Architects and engineers are hired first design the project on paper and bring it back to the client. 👨‍💻

2. Client approves the design or changes are made. ✅

3. After the client receives the blueprints, a bid is put out through a general contractor. Multiple companies send in their proposals with prices, and eventually one is selected. 🙋🙋🙋

4. The company who wins the bid starts paperwork for approval. 📄

5. Revisions need to be made if plans don't match actual site conditions. 🚧

6. Once all parties have reviewed the changes, and approved the paperwork, the installation company can release the product for manufacturing. 📦

7. Once the material is received it can be scheduled for installation. 🔨

6. The installation company finishes the project. 👷

Design-Build Process

1. Company is hired to design and build your project from start to finish. 👷

2. The project is sketched out, parts are ordered and installation can start immediately. 👷✍️🔨

3. The same company that started the project finishes it according to the client's needs and wants. 👷✅

Design-Build Benefit #1: Deadlines

Schools, event spaces, and theaters don't exactly have boatloads of free time to get upgrades done. With classes, events scheduled out far into the calendar, and shows that must go on, it can be hard to figure out a good time for much needed upgrades, let alone an entire renovation.

Deadlines with general contract work can be tough to follow. Because the architects/engineers want to be as thorough as possible to hand off their design to the installers, that takes up a good chunk of time, as does the process of receiving bids and choosing the right installer. If there is an issue with the engineer's designs this can push deadlines back significantly. At PORT Lighting, our designers are also installers, ensuring a near seamless process.

With design-build projects, there is one point of accountability, meaning less time with paperwork, approvals, and less hiccups during the process. Just by taking away the back and forth of the review process, you remove weeks from your timeline.

Design-Build Benefit #2: Costs

The more that deadlines are pushed back on a general contract project, the more that labor costs increase. When it's not so clear on when exactly the work will end, this creates a lot of stress for the client, watching their costs rise.  

By choosing a design-build project, reducing architect / specifier / general contractor / project management oversight, you reduce costs and oversight.