The Journal of Engineering and Construction Management recently published a study that found the design-build delivery method in construction contracting results in a majority of on-time projects, but half of projects using that method run over budget.
The study said that the perception of design-build’s cost savings advantage was uncertain. Researchers in China and Australia studied 418 projects in the Design-Build Institute of America database and found that although half of them resulted in cost overruns, and 75% were completed on time or ahead of schedule.
The Design-Build Institute of America responded to the study results and asserted that the researchers are off the mark, saying that they did not account for possible additional costs resulting from owner-initiated scope changes.
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