The AEC industry continues to see a shift toward alternative delivery methods, including Design-Build (DB), Progressive Design-Build (PDB), and CMGC/CMAR. These approaches are changing how project teams collaborate, pursue work, and ultimately deliver infrastructure projects.
A recent SMPS Utah event explored how these delivery methods impact marketing teams, pursuit strategies, and collaboration across engineering, construction, and design disciplines.
The session featured Melanie Nelsen, CPSM, Regional Marketing Leader at Horrocks, and Alexandra Smith, Senior Marketing Coordinator, who shared insights from their experience supporting complex alternative delivery pursuits nationwide.
Design-Build: Not as New as It Sounds
While design-build may feel like a relatively new trend in public infrastructure procurement, the concept itself has existed for centuries.
During the presentation, the speakers highlighted historical examples of early design-build collaboration, including the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and the Acropolis in Athens. These iconic landmarks required close coordination between designers, engineers, and builders: much like today’s integrated project teams.
Having visited both sites in the past, it was interesting to reflect on them from a new perspective. These projects serve as a reminder that collaboration between design and construction professionals has long been essential to delivering complex structures.
Historic Examples of Design-Build Collaboration
Why Alternative Delivery Is Growing
More public agencies are adopting design-build and progressive design-build because they encourage earlier collaboration between designers and contractors. By bringing the full team together earlier in the process, projects can benefit from:
- Improved communication between stakeholders
- Earlier identification of design and construction challenges
- Opportunities for innovation and efficiency
- More streamlined project delivery timelines
These benefits are particularly valuable for complex infrastructure projects where coordination across disciplines is critical.
The Value of Collaboration
Alternative delivery projects often move quickly and require a high level of coordination among team members. While the pursuit process can be intense, it also provides valuable opportunities for learning and collaboration.
For engineering firms, participating on integrated teams allows designers to gain deeper insight into how design decisions influence construction methods, project costs, and overall project success.
Looking Ahead
Across the industry, the continued shift toward DB and PDB delivery methods is reshaping how teams pursue and deliver infrastructure projects. As these models become more common, strong collaboration between engineering, construction, and client teams will remain a key factor in successful outcomes.
And perhaps most interestingly, while delivery methods continue to evolve, the core idea behind design-build: close collaboration between those who design and those who build—has been shaping great projects for thousands of years.
