If ever you wanted to address more than just the “what” with design-build, this month’s issue is a good place to start. Over the past several months, DATELINE has experienced some changes. We’ve moved — and continue to move — toward a tighter and brighter look while expanding our topical reach among the many issues that come together with design-build.
With steel as the main thrust of this month’s issue, we’ve pulled out all stops. Walker Lee Evey, DBIA president, kicks everything off with a reality check for design-build. In “The Perfect Storm,” he outlines the factors, issues and influences pushing against the design and construction industry today and discusses how these forces come together to create design-build opportunities. You also can read more about this in our DBIA News section.
Most important, we hope to give you a glimpse into the steel industry as never seen before. Overall, the theme that runs through all of these features illustrates the compatibility of design-build and structural steel construction. Individually, these features — with the help of American Institute of Steel Construction Inc. — take an extremely close look at the steel industry from a variety of angles.
“All Aboard” is the lead-off feature written by Larry Flynn. He examines the world of the steel fabricator and illustrates fabricator compatibility with integrated project delivery. Mitch Alverson then takes another step in “Fast Frame,” discussing the benefits of steel manufacturer involvement early in the design-build process. John Cross follows with “Hat Trick” and discusses integration and how building information modeling, sustainability and design-build can come together to virtually change the way buildings are constructed. Finally, Chris Moor takes a look at the entire structural steel supply chain in “Great Lengths.”
Each of these features holds information that can prepare you for your next structural steel project. But don’t miss the latest updates on new projects, contract awards and new DBIA members in our other departments as well. We’re working hard here to bring you the information to get your project to the next level.
Christopher Prawdzik
Editor, Design-Build DATELINE