The AIA Releases Updated Design-Build Documents

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Institute of Architects  announced the release of seven updated documents in the AIA Contract Documents Design-Build family. These documents are among the most frequently used documents of the entire AIA portfolio and are preferred by the industry at large for use on commercial design-build projects.

The 2014 Design-Build documents build on the core strengths of the 2004 edition documents. At the same time they enhance the early interaction between the owner and the design-builder, calling for clearly defined and mandated owner’s criteria for the project and requiring submission of a preliminary design by the design-builder.

“These updated design-build documents strengthen the relationship between the owner and design-builder by fostering greater collaboration and increased communication between the parties,” said Deborah DeBernard, AIA, NCARB, architect AIBC, LEED BD&C, vice president & general manager of AIA Contract Documents at the AIA.

The 2014 Design-Build family of documents maintains the level of usability found in the 2004 edition. The array of agreements continues to accommodate the various ways in which design-build projects are delivered. The key document is, of course, the agreement between the owner and the design-builder. In addition there are agreements for use between the design-builder and architect, as well as between the design-builder and contractor. There are also agreements for use between the architect and consultants, and between the contractor and subcontractors. If the owner desires independent consulting services with respect to the project design and/or construction, there is also an agreement for use between the owner and that independent consultant. To help understand these design-build project variations, and the related contracts, the AIA Contract Documents team created free Design-Build Relationship Diagrams.

Other changes include updated insurance provisions that are consistent with current industry terminology and practices, and a sustainable project exhibit, which can be used if the owner has identified a sustainable objective as part of the owner’s criteria. The sustainable project exhibit is derived from the most recent AIA Sustainable Project Documents and describes the process by which the owner and design-builder will work to achieve the sustainable objective.

The seven updated design-build documents are:

• A141–2014, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Design-
• A142–2014, Standard Form of Agreement Between Design-Builder and
• A441–2014, Standard Form of Agreement Between Contractor and Subcontractor for a Design-Build
• B143–2014, Standard Form of Agreement Between Design-Builder and
• C141–2014, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Consultant for a Design-Build
• C441–2014, Standard Form of Agreement Between Architect and Consultant for a Design-Build
• G744–2014, Certificate of Substantial Completion for a Design-Build Project

The updated design-build documents are available in the latest version of the AIA Contract Documents desktop software, and online through AIA Documents-on-Demand and AIA Documents-on-Demand Plus.