About DBIA

DBIA: Practicing What We Preach
Spring 2012

The recent build-out of DBIA’s new Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters in Washington, D.C., was a true test of the value of design-build best practices as taught by our organization. Like many owners, DBIA was challenged by both a very tight schedule and a limited budget. Yet the association also wanted its headquarters to reflect a forward-thinking attitude and a clean, contemporary and timeless aesthetic with high-design space planning principles. How did DBIA achieve best value while meeting schedule and quality goals? We practiced what we preach.

Like any successful design-build project, DBIA focused on three elements:

1. Selection of the right team via an effective selection process.
2. Well-defined performance requirements that allow for flexibility and creativity.
3. Contract incentives that focus on non-cost performance.

DBIA used a single-step, qualifications-based solicitation. Because of a strict budget and uncertainty over exact needs, we sought a design-build team that would help us define, design and build. We narrowed the proposers to a short list of three teams based on qualifications. The final selection was made based on interviews with each proposing team. Key considerations guiding the selection process included each team’s capabilities and experience with design-build, including demonstrated understanding of design-build best practices as defined and taught by DBIA. We carefully reviewed resumes of individuals to be assigned to the project, with additional consideration given for DBIA™ certification.

DBIA used a build-to-budget approach, providing the teams with a GMP and performance-based requirements for the new space. An office that exemplified key attributes of the organization’s values statement — specifically an open, collaborative work environment — was important to DBIA. In addition to serving the needs of the current staff of 20, a flexible configuration was important to allow for growth of up to 30 employees during the next five to 10 years. Along with this series of broad performance-based qualities, DBIA provided exact square footage, existing building requirements and constraints, a required construction completion date based on the organization’s current lease, details of products and services it offers, and an overview of how the staff interacts to help drive adjacencies in the new space.

As a small nonprofit, DBIA and the selected team had to be creative in determining contract incentives. The selected design-builder, DPR Construction, agreed on an approach that would allow for a safe zone for DBIA, whereby savings up to a specified amount would revert back to the owner and would be shared according to a predetermined, agreed-upon formula.

DBIA is pleased with the design-build team’s innovation and creativity. A build-out in the heart of a major metropolitan area, adjacent to a major downtown hotel, meant numerous challenges. These were addressed and overcome during the weekly team meetings. Special thanks to the selected design-build team: DPR Construction, Shapiro and Duncan, M.C. Dean and Envision Architects..

Lisa Washington, CAE
Executive Director