Advantages & Disadvantages
The biggest advantage for design-bid has always been the multiple bidder process and market competition. For this reason Brawner & Associates has worked in a design-bid arrangement many times especially in the academic market and are always willing too. However, Brawner & Associates believes that design-build method has the most advantages to our clients. We have listed those advantages below and offered some quotes on the subject from industry experts.

Advantages to Design-Build Methods

• Saves client considerable design fees from design only firms
• Changes throughout project can be made easily
• Allows “Real world” cost input & opportunity to guarantee maximum cost
• Occurrence of costly change orders is drastically reduced or eliminated
• Solid, direct line of responsibility from start to finish
• Emphasis is on best team and value not on lowest cost provider
• Generally, Green-certified buildings can be produced for less cost using a Design Build method because the architect and builder are on the same page from day one making ever changing decisions that affect the sustainability of the project

Disadvantages to Design-Bid Methods

• Changes after bidding may be difficult and certainly costly
• Many construction costs are not known until late in the game
• Responsibility gets pushed from designer to contractor and contractor to contractor
• Bidding process and emphasis on low cost bid leads to considerable errors in calculation and judgments causing issue at completion in either expectation or final cost.

“When circumstances dictate that the church minimize the amount of time and effort it must put into the building program, they should consider Design Build. If the church has the appropriate expertise and is willing to put in the extra time and effort to select a ‘best of breed’ approach for both the architect and the builder, then Design Bid Build might be the best solution.”
Stephen Anderson, Principal Consultant
Clayton, North Carolina-based AMI Church Consulting Services

“The Design Build process allows the architect and builder and major subcontractors[to be involved with the owner in the initial planning and design, providing a guaranteed maximum price. Essentially, the design builder warrants to the owner/church that the plans are complete and takes the risk for any discrepancies in the plans.”
Rene Charest, CEO
CharestCorp Church Builders in Fresno, California

“The Brawner team worked for us in a design-build manner. Due to this they were able to include LED lighting in our sanctuary for no additional money and actual cost savings in electrical infrastructure after it became more viable over the course of the two year project. From experience, in a design-bid agreement their would have been flying change orders that would have resulted in re-design fees from the design team and an opportunity to pay top dollar for the LED units from the installing contractor.”
Timothy Neptune, Pastor
First Baptist Church, Marco Island FL

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