Design-Build Method Gaining Ground in Water-Sewer Arena, But Hurdles Remain
Design-build is making headway in delivering water and wastewater projects, as public owners and lawmakers become more open to integrated delivery across the board. But speakers and more than 300 attendees at the Design-Build Institute of Americas annual water and wastewater conference in San Diego Feb. 4-6 cited continuing challenges as well as opportunities.
"I believe were at a critical time in project delivery," said Mayor Bob Young of Augusta, Ga. said in his Feb. 5 keynote address. "Design-build is here, its matured, and its got a bright future." Augusta selected MWH as design-builder for its largest-ever public works projecta $55-million water treatment plant that is now about 60% complete. Despite familiar concerns that design-build limits owner control, Young finds that "the design-build process actually gives us more control over the final product and gives us continuous owner input."