design & build

What is a Design-Build Contract?

A design-build contract, sometimes called a design/build, D-B, or D/B contract, is a project delivery system often used in construction. While the traditional approach to construction requires contracts with two separate entities, a designer and a contractor, a design-build contract combines these two entities, so only one company is responsible for the designing and building contract for a project.

Design-build contracts save time and money and can prevent situations where an owner may be caught in the middle of a dispute between a contractor and a designer. With this kind of contract, the designer and the contractor work together from the beginning of the project as a team.

Some advantages that owners enjoy from a design-build contract include:

  • Unified project recommendations
  • Collaborative problem solving
  • No blame-shifting between designer and contractor
  • One point of responsibility
  • Savings in time and money

Design-build contracts are becoming more popular to tackle home building and remodel projects while saving time and money.