Conference Program

Design professionals face continued pressure to do more with the same or often fewer, resources. This presentation considers where “less is more” and shares building blocks for rethinking and improving design and delivery processes.

Building on strategies drawn from Lean principles, this program highlights the tenets underlying excellence in project delivery. It focuses on five essentials: accelerated decision-making, effective communication, strategic modeling, targeted reviews and streamlined documents. Examine strategies, techniques and methodologies that have proven effective, and consider how to restructure your firm's design and delivery processes around what contributes actual value and reduces wasteful efforts.

The challenges faced by the design and construction industry as a result of COVID-19 have been enormous. What does the future hold for design-build project delivery, and the design-builders who are leading the way? This session will focus on, review of jobsite safety pre-COVID, during COVID, and how it will evolve post-COVID.

In this interactive session Leaders will learn from other Leaders. Both Owners and Professionals will be encouraged to share what has been learned through the COVID-19 disruption and be able to immediately apply new insights to better equip their leaders and build their teams as their markets and communities emerge from the current crisis.

This session will focus on how the collaborative process involving designers, builders, suppliers, estimators, and owners changes when architects learn how to assemble architecture with the use of design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) principles and prefabricated elements like components, subassemblies, and modules. Attendees will understand how roadblocks in the design and estimating process either enable or constrain downstream optimization of prefabrication for the construction and operations teams.

The challenges faced by the design and construction industry as a result of COVID-19 have been enormous. What does the future hold for design-build project delivery, and the design-builders who are leading the way? This session will focus on Collaboration and Co-Location and focus on how COVID-19 has changed the way both are happening.

DBIA’s Design-Build Done Right® Best Practices are universally applicable best practices that, if implemented, significantly increase the chances of project success. The principles apply to project of any size, in any sector, in any location.

Design-build project delivery has grown in popularity, accounting for nearly half of all design and construction in the United States. This growth can be attributed, in part, to the flexibility of design-build, including an Owner’s option to choose from among key variations: Two-Phase Best-Value Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build.

The use of fair and clear contracts is fundamental to any delivery process. Because there are some important differences between design-build contracts and those for other delivery systems, it is particularly important for the individuals who administer the design-build procurement and execution to understand the contract’s language and its practical application.

The pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges for current students and recent graduates searching for AEC jobs and internships. This session is designed to help students leverage what they’ve learned through their formal education to open the doors for future employment. DBIA’s College of Fellows are the nation’s leading design-build professionals, with decades of experience in a broad cross-section of disciplines and organizations. The Fellows’ Mentoring Committee will lead this session to help college and university students navigate the COVID-19 job market and prepare for future success.

In 2019, DBIA appointed a Future’s Council to help position DBIA for future success by providing thought leadership on topics which may affect project delivery & the built environment over the next 20+ years. Join this panel as members of the Council discuss their insight into the future of the industry.

Design excellence reflects the practice of good judgment throughout project procurement, development, and execution, as well as sound decision making within the limitations imposed by logistics, constructability, budget, scope, and schedule. Although Design-Build is well-suited to deliver on amazing design in every way, it is no secret that some from the design community feel the business model can pose obstacles, while others have experienced unparalleled success elevating design in Design-Build.