The construction industry is at a crossroads. Disruption is inevitable, and it's happening now. We have an opportunity to take construction to the next level by providing more for less, streamlining the supply chain, and managing the complexities of projects as technological innovation continues at an unprecedented pace. Simply sticking to business as usual isn't the path forward, and as evidenced by rising pressures across all industries, complacency is not an option.

DPR, in a move toward greater predictability, value and efficiency on projects, is laser-focused on leveraging virtual design and construction (VDC), prefabrication, self-perform work (SPW) and data. Integrated together, they promote a project approach that fosters earlier and more informed decision making, responsiveness in the face of increasing external pressures, and greater certainty in all project outcomes.

• VDC - Scale and improve capabilities and maximize BIM through the project lifecycle
• Prefabrication - Increase the use of prefabrication across all aspects of the project
• SPW - Integrate SPW into our project teams and take advantage of their expertise
• Data - Leverage the right data at the right time to improve project and business outcomes

The key to unlocking the synergy between each of these areas: a design-to-build approach.

Design-to-build is an up-to-date take on the concept of master builder, adding the data and technology of modern design and construction. It is an approach that spans the whole design and construction process, from initial concepts through delivery, and ensures all relevant expertise is available during the entire project lifecycle. Instead of prioritizing individual outcomes, this process enables the relevant expertise to provide valuable insight and experience to decisions throughout.

For example, on a project in Northern California, the structural engineer of record, rebar contractor and field foreman all worked together with DPR’s technical design service team on designing prefabricated rebar cages for the building’s foundations. Using VDC, the team also created an installation workflow so that when the materials arrived on-site, they were installed smoothly, quickly and safely, exactly the way it was modeled.

Where conventional project delivery methods involve a sequential flow of information from one project stakeholder to another, design-to-build is intrinsically more collaborative. The result: greater ownership and control of outcomes in aesthetics, cost, safety, schedule and quality.

Leveraging Collective Expertise to Optimize Projects

At DPR, a design-to-build approach is centered on our areas of expertise and experience to leverage the best of what we do and further optimize project delivery.

Design Integration Management

Design Integration Management is a proactive approach to bringing design and construction activities together under a single process framework to achieve all project goals. Design Integration Management identifies opportunities for improvement, drives transparency, emphasizes communication, and supports alignment.

Technical Design Services

As buildings and materials grow ever more complex, the ‘means and methods’ gap widens and becomes more impactful. Design services bridge and translate across this gap between complete professional documents and the detailed integrated technical information required to execute and optimize building in the field.

VDC

In addition to fostering transparency and early intervention, a digital process facilitated by VDC technology allows all participants to share a single source of information that supports effective and timely decision making. VDC supports development of design at the level of detail needed for direct fabrication and manufacture and allows prototyping and optimization of new approaches long before the reach the field.

Prefabrication

Early design and construction integration enables greater opportunity for prefabrication through design optimization and scope packaging—promoting greater speed, quality and safety in the field. It makes delivery of a design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) approach possible, taking advantage of high repetition, common elements to fine tune design for optimum performance and ease of assembly.

SPW

Design-to-build supports effective deployment of SPW teams while leveraging the experience and expertise of field teams to inform the design before it is finalized. This improves installation workflow and creates opportunities for more effective delivery and higher quality.

Data

Design-to-build relies on a shared data environment to support transparency and facilitate decision making. A data-rich virtual environment also allows teams to harvest more complete project data that can inform evaluations of performance and effectiveness, at both a detail and facility level. Such information can then be applied on future projects when it is most helpful: during the design phase.

Applied thoughtfully and thoroughly, design-to-build can improve outcomes in several areas key to modernizing construction, streamlining the process, and bettering field performance.