For many years we competitively bid architect/contractor type projects, against other general contractors, based on architectural plans and specifications. Most of the time, being the successful bidder of an architect/contractor project was only the beginning of an involved process. The majority of these projects came in over the projected budget, and we did extensive value engineering to achieve an affordable project. On several occasions the architectural estimate was so unrealistic that the project was not constructed at all. Time and money invested in plans, revisions, and this process, where a loss to all involved.

The process of design/build establishes a team comprised of the owner, contractor, architect, and the engineers to streamline the design process. The major objective is to give the designers feedback, through-out the design development process, to ensure cost effective materials and practical design methods are used. Since contractors are involved daily with the purchasing of materials, contractors know which products perform well and provide value for your dollar. This process also gives the contractor an avenue to incorporate necessary details, and specifications, into the design documents to help clarify responsibilities. Simple notes on the plans, or in the specifications, will clarify that the structural steel fabricator will supply the ladder in the elevator pit, not the elevator manufacturer. This will ensure that the gray areas are covered in the contract, but not paid for twice. This process requires frequent reviews of the design documents by the contractor, suppliers, architect, and engineers, to ensure that plans are detailed and as comprehensive as possible. The involvement of the contractor from the onset of this process will put him and the architect in a "responsible position" for their efforts in the design and construction phases of your project.

In contrast the conventional architect/bid process puts the owner in a vulnerable position. The contractor is only obligated to supply those things clearly included in the design documents, any gray areas in the design documents will likely result in a change order to the customer. This puts the owner in an open ended cost arrangement. The owner's representative may also become an arbitrator between the architect and the contractor. Typically, the materials specified and construction methods will be those most familiar to the architect, without the benefit of cost research or practical construction input.

We work to establish, and update, your budget cost through-out this process. This process insures that the church will get the most value for their dollar. After local building reviews are completed, we can confidently provide you with a guaranteed cost for the construction of your building.