Letter from the Editor

I am honored to again serve as your editor of the Master Builder, the electronic newsletter of the Design-Build Knowledge Community. This year, the Master Builder will combine highlights of programs and other learning opportunities, news from our member firms, and feature articles.

The Design-Build Knowledge Community has expanded the AIA survey to learn more about our member’s experiences with and plans for projects using single source design and construction delivery. The expanded survey will be administered in May, with survey results available later in the summer. Survey results will be analyzed and shared in the fall issue of Master Builder.

Each issue of the Master Builder will include highlights from recent events, information on upcoming events, news from Design-Build Knowledge Community members, and feature articles.

-Betsy Downs, AIA

Feature Articles

Design-Build Risk Management: Insurance Problems and How to Avoid Them
By William Reifsteck II, Director of Integrated Services at GKK Works, California

Construction insurance and bonding is in turmoil. AIG, a flagship insurer and underwriter was close to default. Contractors and Owners are worried as to how to price some new insurance requirements. Design-Build projects are requiring new coverages. How does an Owner know what risk transfer products will serve their interests best? Design-Builders are looking for ways to cover their risks....Continue Reading.

Design-Build and Integrated Project Delivery: Similarities and Differences
By Markku Allison, AIA, Resource Architect and Betsy Downs, AIA, President, OWP/P Design/Build

Mutual trust and respect, shared risk and reward, collaboration, innovation, early involvement of key participants, early cost and schedule knowledge, elimination of waste and duplication, open communication, common goals – proponents of design-build (DB) services have long touted these as advantages of single source contracting for design and construction services. More recently, many of these same benefits have been promoted as fundamental principles of integrated project delivery (IPD). The similarities between DB and IPD are many; and there are some important differences as well....Continue Reading

Upcoming Events

Changing Times | Time for Change: Practice, Productivity and Effectiveness
September 24–26, 2009, Chicago
14.5 AIA/CES learning units (LUs)
Early Registration Rates Expire this Friday, July 31!
Architects practice in a world that is changing at a breathtaking rate, requiring near-constant reassessment of business models and professional practices. This conference will explore the major areas of opportunity that are reshaping architecture practice including BIM, sustainability, and interoperability. An optional half-day workshop, “Design-Build 101,” adds a compelling overview of basic designer-led design-build practice.

Greening Your Homes: Increasing the Health and Sustainability of Existing Housing
October 2–3, 2009, Washington, DC
Presented by the AIA, this conference will bring together design professionals and policy makers to address these challenges and share best practices in increasing the health and sustainability of our nation's existing housing stock.

The AIA Design Build Knowledge Community maintains this list of events offered by allied organizations in addition to AIA DB-sponsored events featured on the Design-Build home page. If you would like to suggest an addition to the list, please send the information to designbuild@aia.org . 

Web Seminar 3: How to Be an Effective Partner in a Contractor Led Entity: Learning Opportunities for Architects
Thursday, October 15, 2009
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST
Speakers: Carlos J. Cardoso, AIA and Betsy Downs, AIA
In previous sessions this year and last, we’ve focused on architect-led design-build. In reality, the majority of design-build projects in the US are contractor-led. This session explores how an architect can be an effective partner in a contractor-led entity, and how the architect can turn this experience into a learning opportunity, better equipping the architectural firm to take the lead on subsequent projects.

Web Seminar 4: How to Make In-Roads into Government Design-Build Projects
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST
Speakers: David Hart, AIA, Hari Doshi, and Domenic Meffe
More information to come.

Opportunities

AIA "Show How You Re-Green" Housing Awards 
Submission deadline: 8 p.m. ET, September 3, 2009
The AIA Housing & Custom Residential Knowledge Community is looking for innovative designs that have significantly reduced the resource use and increased the indoor environmental quality of existing housing.

AIA Sustainable Design Assessment Team program (SDAT) Call for Proposals 
Submission Deadline: November 19, 2009
The mission of the SDAT program is to provide technical assistance and process expertise to help communities develop a vision and framework for a sustainable future. To view the recently released Request for Proposals, and to access past SDAT applications and other related resources, please visit the AIA Center for Communities by Design Web site.

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Contribute to Master Builder

Members of the AIA Design-Build Knowledge Community are invited to submit news about design-build projects they have won or have completed, awards received, or new service lines being offered. This information will be shared with our Knowledge Community in the next Master Builder. Please submit your news to bdowns@owpp.com.