Top Benefits of Involving a General Contractor in the Design Phase
January 6, 2025 Commercial Construction, General ContractorIn this blog, we explore how involving a general contractor in the design phase can benefit your commercial construction project.
Why You Should Include a General Contractor in the Design Phase
The complexity of modern construction projects demands seamless collaboration between designers and builders. Through a design-build model, general contractors are involved from the design phase onwards, ensuring a streamlined project from start to finish. But what exactly does this mean, and how does it benefit the end result of your project?
What Is Design-Build Construction?
Design-build construction merges the design, engineering, and construction phases of a project into a single contract. This differs from the traditional design-bid-build (DBB) approach, where design and construction are contracted separately. General contractors (GCs) are involved early in the design process during design-build construction projects. This can have many benefits, including:
- Cost reductions
- Streamlined project management
- Clear communication from start to finish
- Risk mitigation
- And more
By connecting all team members at the start, design-build creates opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and value—benefitting not only your project’s bottom line but also the quality and timeliness of the final outcome.
4 Benefits of Including a General Contractor in the Design Phase
Including a general contractor in the design phase allows for enhanced collaboration between all team members, careful project planning, and maximized value. Below are some key advantages of involving a general contractor in the design phase.
1. Cut Costs with Value Engineering
Value engineering is a key part of pre-construction planning that focuses on minimizing costs without sacrificing the project’s quality or vision. Involving a general contractor early creates opportunities to optimize this process.
GCs have valuable experience in managing construction projects from start to finish. This allows them to identify potential inefficiencies and propose cost-effective alternatives during the design phase.
The key principles of value engineering in commercial construction include:
- Function analysis: identifying the essential functions of a product, service, or goal to understand its purpose
- Cost analysis: assessing all costs associated with each function
- Idea generation: brainstorming cost-effective alternatives to achieve the same goals
- Feasibility evaluation: evaluating the practicality of the proposed alternatives and selecting the best options
By participating in the design phase, general contractors can apply value engineering principles and provide accurate cost estimates based on real-world construction practices, helping project owners establish a realistic budget and avoid unwanted expenses.
2. Minimized Project Delays
A GC’s deep understanding of commercial construction makes them an asset for predicting potential delays. From material procurement and permits to scheduling and more, they oversee many moving parts during every project. When included in the design phase, a GC can draw upon their experience to anticipate potential bottlenecks and suggest alternatives. This allows for smoother planning, fewer delays, and a more efficient project overall.
3. Streamlined Communication
Miscommunication is a common challenge in commercial construction. Fortunately, involving a general contractor early on in the process can help improve communication for seamless project flow.
A general contractor is the central point of contact for owners, architects, engineers, suppliers, subcontractors, and other project stakeholders. This streamlined communication structure:
- Ensures effective collaboration between all team members
- Reduces conflict
- Minimizes confusion
- Reduces delays
- Keeps everyone aligned with the same goals from the start
The earlier a general contractor is involved, the better communication will be throughout the entire project.
4. Risk Mitigation and Problem-Solving
A general contractor’s experience gives them a keen eye for potential risks and inefficiencies. When involved in the design process, they can proactively identify and address possible risks early on, including material delays, permit issues, non-compliance, and more. This helps prevent expensive delays and ensures the project is constructed in compliance with regulations and the highest quality standards.
Partner With an Experienced Design-Build Team
General contractors are essential for ensuring the success of a commercial construction project. Involving them early in the design phase leads to cost savings, fewer delays, clear communication, and minimized risks.
For over 40 years, FDC has served the West Coast as a premier full-service commercial construction company. We offer a comprehensive suite of commercial construction services including design-build construction to maximize the value of your project and boost its ongoing success. Contact us online today or call (707)-523-1722 to see how we can make your vision a reality.