Nailing down construction costs. Design-build approach may have some answers

Design-build firms, long accustomed to getting the smaller projects in the healthcare construction industry, have reason to be optimistic that the plum jobs will no longer be out of reach. At a time when the healthcare industry is under intense pressure to cut costs, but the need for renovation and new construction is increasing, design-build is a construction approach that promises to save time and money and guarantees price up front. As an alternative to traditional design-bid-build construction methods, the design-build approach offers single-source, full-service design and construction as a package deal. One entity is responsible for the project and resolving any problems that should occur. It eliminates the bidding process, which can take up to three or four months. By employing their own architects, engineers, and construction professionals, design-build firms can get all members of the project team involved at the outset. This not only helps the company establish a firm price early on, it facilitates total coordination of the project.