How integrated project delivery is changing the industry and proving to deliver greater value

Change is in the air, or should we say in the field. For an industry that has stayed stagnant in productivity for nearly 40 years, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Commerce, we are experiencing a rapid move to alternative delivery methods, such as integrated project delivery (IPD), proven to minimize waste while maximizing efficiency and quality.

Building upon our success on the Camino Medical Group Mountain View Medical Center, which helped Sutter Health save nearly $9 million and shaved six months off of a traditional CM-at-risk process, DPR has been awarded several projects over the last year that incorporate an integrated project delivery. The projects include a new customer briefing center for Autodesk in San Francisco, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) national headquarters in Washington D.C., and a new hospital for Palomar Pomerado Health in Escondido, CA.

What exactly is IPD? The AIA published a guide last year that defines IPD as a project delivery approach that integrates people, systems, business structures and practices into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize project results, increase value to the owner, reduce waste, and maximize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction.

For DPR, IPD offers a tremendous opportunity to be on the forefront of a breakthrough in the industry, driving innovation and working with teammates who share our values and passion for building in a highly collaborative environment. The energy once spent on unnecessary conflicts, overproduction and rework in the field is now being redirected toward:

• creating relational contracts where stakeholders share in both the risks and rewards,
• building information modeling (BIM) to enhance communication, increase prefabrication and better coordinate building systems installations,
• target value design, with all team members designing to a specific pre-determined target cost, and
• producing more reliable workflow through the Last Planner™ system, a lean approach to planning and delivering projects.

Integrated project delivery is about change. It is about looking at the unique demands of each project and leveraging the experience and ability of all the team members to achieve the greatest results for the customer. It is about making and keeping promises, building trust among team members, and moving an industry forward. Together, we can achieve great things.

For more detailed information on integrated project delivery, read “Integrated Project Delivery Improves Efficiency, Streamlines Construction,” co-authored by DPR’s Eric Lamb and Dean Reed.