Paul DeFeis, senior managing partner at Trade Mark Design & Build, has 15 years of experience in Residential Design and certainly knows a thing or two about home renovation. Here he discusses why the concept of Design-Build is such a strong one, and why so many clients are delighted with the result…
Design-build is an integrated delivery process, and believe it or not it’s not new. It is one that has been embraced by the world’s great civilizations, going back as far as ancient Mesopotamia.
The Code of Hammurabi (1800 BC) fixed absolute accountability upon master builders for both construction and design. In the succeeding millennia, projects ranging from cathedrals to corporate headquarters were conceived and constructed using the same design-build paradigm.
Master Builders
It all begins with the concept of the Master Builders, who accepted full responsibility for integrating conceptual design with functional performance. They had to take on complete accountability for delivering a project, and doing anything else was unthinkable.
To accomplish this task, the took on skilled craftsmen, procured the right materials, and controlled every aspect of the project. In a nutshell, a master builder was a chief architect, engineer and builder – all molded into one.
Today, there is a revival of this approach as informed homeowners ask practitioners to take more than just an artistic interest in their remodeling jobs. They want them to deliver all the services, from conceptualizing the project alongside them all the way to installation and product after-care, which is what design-build does.
Design-builders will:
- Take full accountability for architecture, engineering and construction.
- Knowledgeably pursue design quality
- Effectively control costs and schedule
- Ensure the task is carried out from concept to completion
If you are looking to have a remodeling project completed and want the best, a design-build company should be your first call.
