DBIA Updates Design-Build Done Right Universal Best Practices

The Design-Build Institute of America has released updates to its Design-Build Done Right Universal Best Practices, first released in 2014. DBIA updated the guide in response to the continued growth and evolution of design-build and the construction, architecture and engineering industry at large. As an organization dedicated to whole-team success, DBIA considered a variety of stakeholders to ensure the update included all perspectives. If implemented, DBIA Best Practices significantly increase the chances of project and team success.

Design-build is a single point of responsibility contract and a cultural shift in the way a team works together; thus, education is important to promoting successful design-build. The guide provides the foundation for the education and guidance needed for that success and to support the continued growth of design-build.

The 2023 Best Practices incorporates several changes that reflect the current state and projected growth of design-build, equipping project teams with vital guidance for delivering good design-build and creating consistency in expectations for design-build projects. More broadly, technological advancements, lessons learned during a global pandemic, societal change and industry shifts over the last several years also necessitated updated recommendations for design-build. Highlights include:

• Addition of Guiding Principles that serve as an anchor to the best practices in the areas of Universal Ethical Conduct, Demonstrated Competence, Sustainable Professional Development and Supporting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
• Enhanced focus on the role of industry practitioners – not just owners – and how they can further contribute to project and team success.
• Better organization and visual flow of the content.
• Clear distinction between a Best Value procurement approach versus Progressive Design-Build.

These updated best practices will inform changes to our core curriculum which serves as the basis of DBIA’s design-build certification program. Updates to both the curriculum and certification exam are anticipated in the latter half of 2024.

Download at the DBIA Bookstore.