Board Reflections

This edition of Design-Build DATELINE focuses on the steel industry and explores how design-build can positively affect the outcome of a steel-framed project. When steel is selected, it is often because an accelerated schedule and timely delivery are determined to be critical to the overall success of the project. And electing to go design-build can further shave months off a schedule.

A steel fabricator should be involved early in the design process in order to maximize potentially substantial cost savings. A well-managed design-build project could reduce the time from preliminary design to the start of steel erection by up to 50 percent. And Building Information Modeling (BIM), (check out DATELINE’s December 2006 Information Technology Issue) will further enhance the steel and construction industries’ ability to innovatively deliver a structure.

There are some good models of design-build delivery in the steel industry. Pre-engineered metal structures are one. However, in the mainstream of custom designed steel structures, the bid-build world still dominates. In a traditional design-bid-build project, the owner is not aware of the costs or the delivery and erection schedule until drawings are complete and the project is bid. Costs are often too high, which necessitates re-design, and consequently the project incurs delays and additional costs.

Engaging the steel fabricator early in the process provides significant benefit to the design team in achieving the most cost-effective solution. Charles Keyes, vice president of Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers, notes “the ability to engage the steel fabricator early and integrate them into the design process at the beginning provides the best product at the least cost. The fabricator brings their expertise on availability of shapes, and provides guidance on how the structural design can be most compatible with production. It allows the designer to know if the fabricator will punch holes or cut them, whether connections will be welded or bolted, or if it’s better to select an alternate member size based on availability. All these contribute to a leaner, more cost-effective solution.” Having the fabricator on board in the initial design stages offers the opportunity to get a mill order in the queue much earlier in the process, which reduces risk in a volatile commodities market and allows costs to be locked down earlier. It also allows the fabricator and erector to provide constructability input to the design for other building components leading to more shop fabrication and less modification in the field.

With a rapidly developing paradigm shift in the way projects are designed and contract documents are produced utilizing BIM, the steel industry is at the forefront of a new frontier. The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) predicts that with the use of the three-dimensional virtual building model, two-dimensional drawings will be eliminated. The designers and the constructors will all be working from the same three-dimensional model. There are many advantages to an integrated design-build approach utilizing BIM. The structural engineer can export his analysis model into the design model, which is utilized by the fabricator to complete the connection design and detailing. The model can then be returned to the design engineer for review and approval, upon which it is then sent back to the fabricator who uses the model to drive the CNC (Computer-Numerically Controlled) equipment for fabrication. The model can also be used for erection sequencing, and when tied to a positioning system, it can accurately control placement of the structural elements. This new paradigm will demand new ways of collaborating.

So, why would there be reluctance to the selection of design-build structural steel as a procurement strategy? Especially one utilizing BIM? The answer is that there are challenges to overcome. Owners and contractors may be reluctant to engage a fabricator-erector early, hoping to obtain more competitive pricing in the market. Architects and engineers are reluctant to engage in truly collaborative strategies for fear of losing control. All parties are just beginning to understand exactly how the use of BIM integrates into the part of the process. These concerns can and will be addressed. DBIA’s educational programs offer professional development in all aspects of design-build delivery. The Designated Design-Build Professional™ program specifically addresses this issue. Educated partners, including owners, designers and constructors, who understand the processes and relationships will succeed. Their knowledge, trust and collaboration will see to it.