DBIA Design-Build Fundamentals and Principles Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the defining characteristic of design-build that distinguishes it from design-bid-build?
- Design-build always costs less
- A single entity holds both design and construction contracts, providing single-source responsibility (Correct answer)
- Design-build does not require a licensed architect
- The owner has no involvement in the design process
Correct answer: A single entity holds both design and construction contracts, providing single-source responsibility
The fundamental distinction of design-build is single-source responsibility, where one entity is contractually responsible for both design and construction.
In traditional design-bid-build, the owner holds separate contracts with a designer and a contractor. Design-build changes this by having one entity hold contractual responsibility for the entire project delivery, eliminating finger-pointing and encouraging collaboration.
Question 2: According to DBIA principles, which element is most critical to a successful design-build project?
- Selecting the lowest-cost design-builder
- Early and continuous collaboration between design and construction team members (Correct answer)
- Eliminating the owner's involvement after contract award
- Using only fixed-price contracts
Correct answer: Early and continuous collaboration between design and construction team members
DBIA emphasizes that early and continuous collaboration between designers and constructors is the cornerstone of successful design-build.
DBIA's core principles center on collaborative integration of design and construction expertise throughout the project lifecycle. This collaboration enables constructability reviews during design, value engineering, schedule optimization, and innovative solutions.
Question 3: What does 'single-source responsibility' mean in design-build delivery?
- The owner must use only one funding source
- One entity is accountable for both the design adequacy and construction performance of the project (Correct answer)
- Only one subcontractor is allowed on the project
- The architect and contractor must be the same person
Correct answer: One entity is accountable for both the design adequacy and construction performance of the project
Single-source responsibility means the design-build entity bears contractual accountability for both design quality and construction execution.
When a problem arises in a design-build project, the design-builder is responsible regardless of whether the failure was a design issue or construction issue. There is no gap in accountability, which creates powerful incentives to coordinate and catch errors early.
Question 4: How does design-build typically affect project delivery timelines compared to design-bid-build?
- Design-build always takes longer due to added coordination
- Design-build compresses schedules by overlapping design and construction phases (Correct answer)
- There is no difference in timeline between the methods
- Design-build is faster only for projects under $1 million
Correct answer: Design-build compresses schedules by overlapping design and construction phases
Design-build enables fast-tracking through concurrent design and construction activities, often reducing overall delivery time by 30-40%.
In design-bid-build, the process is strictly sequential. Design-build eliminates these dependencies by allowing construction to start on completed portions while other portions are still being designed. Studies document schedule savings of 30-40%.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the design-builder's standard of care for design services?
- Absolute perfection with zero defects
- The same professional standard of care applicable to design professionals in the applicable jurisdiction (Correct answer)
- A warranty that the design will never need modification
- Only compliance with minimum building code requirements
Correct answer: The same professional standard of care applicable to design professionals in the applicable jurisdiction
Design-builders are held to the professional standard of care—performing with the skill and diligence of a reasonably competent design professional.
The professional standard of care requires design professionals to exercise the degree of skill and care ordinarily exercised by reasonably competent practitioners. This is not a warranty of perfection. DBIA's standard contracts explicitly incorporate this standard.
Question 6: What is the primary reason DBIA advocates for performance-based criteria rather than prescriptive specifications in design-build?
- Prescriptive specifications are illegal in design-build
- Performance criteria allow the design-builder to innovate and optimize solutions while meeting the owner's functional requirements (Correct answer)
- Performance criteria eliminate the need for quality inspections
- It reduces the design-builder's liability
Correct answer: Performance criteria allow the design-builder to innovate and optimize solutions while meeting the owner's functional requirements
Performance-based criteria define what the end result must achieve rather than how to achieve it, giving the design-builder freedom to innovate.
DBIA advocates for performance-based criteria because prescriptive specifications undermine design-build's greatest advantage: leveraging the design-builder's integrated expertise. Performance criteria define outcomes and allow the design-builder to determine the best means of achieving them.
DBIA Design-Build Fundamentals and Principles Questions and Answers 2
What is the defining characteristic of design-build that distinguishes it from design-bid-build?