In a Design-Build project, the owner contracts with an Architect-Contractor team. What is a potential downside of this arrangement?

• A. Design-Bid-Build
• B. Design-Build
• C. Integrated Project Delivery
• D. Bridged Design-Build

Answer: (B)

In a design-build arrangement, the owner signs with a single team that handles both design and construction under one contract. The main downside is reduced owner control and fewer independent checks on the design, because design decisions are made within the same team that will execute the build. This can lead to a bias toward constructability and cost-saving choices pushed by the contractor, potentially compromising design quality or long-term performance. It also can limit transparency and flexibility in exploring alternative designs or cost options outside what the integrated team proposes, making changes or challenges harder to manage outside the team’s process.