abstract: The water and wastewater industry in the United States is in dire need of renovation due to dwindling infrastructure and requires substantial reinvestment. Design-bid-build (DBB) is the traditional method of project delivery most widely applied in this industry. However, alternative project delivery methods (APDM) are on the rise and touting the benefits of reduced project schedule and cost. The main purpose of this study is to conduct a qualitative and quantitative performance evaluation to assess the current impact of APDM in the water and wastewater industry. A national survey was conducted targeting completed water and wastewater treatment plant projects. Responses were obtained from 75 utilities and constructors that either completed their projects using DBB, construction manager at risk (CMAR), or design-build (DB). Data analysis revealed that CMAR and DB statistically outperformed DBB in terms of project speed and intensity. Performance metrics such as cost growth, schedule growth, unit cost, factors influencing project delivery method selection, scope changes, warranty and latent defects, and several others are also evaluated. The main contribution of this study was that it was able to show that for the same project cost, water and wastewater treatment plants could be delivered under a faster schedule and with higher quality through the utilization of APDM. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Construction Management 2018

Project planning in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry at present relies heavily on individual skills, experience and improvisation. In an attempt to increase predictability and efficiency, and to improve knowledge retention across projects, this thesis proposes a more systematic approach to project planning. It does so by introducing the notion of a meta-process model that embodies and cultivates the logic and intelligence of incremental and collaborative planning activities in a given domain. Planning tasks are encoded and enforced as a set of structured dialogues between project partners. To make this possible, a taxonomy extension to current workflow modeling technology is introduced. The concept of the chosen approach can thus be classified as process mediation through structured dialogues. It is applied to the particular example case of Design-Build project delivery for which a detailed workflow model was created. This model serves as a partial instantiation of the larger Project Management Body Of Knowledge, an abstract framework put forward by the US Project Management Institute. A prototype system architecture is devised as an extension to an existing collaborative virtual environment developed in the European e-HUBs research project. This experimental Web-based platform supports the enactment of workflows that are expressed in the standardized syntax of the neutral process definition language XPDL. The functional richness of the structured dialogue extensions is demonstrated through a dialogue management prototype developed as a separate MS Access database application.

abstract: Alternative Project Delivery Methods (APDMs), namely Design Build (DB) and Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), grew out of the need to find a more efficient project delivery approach than the traditional Design Bid Build (DBB) form of delivery. After decades of extensive APDM use, there have been many studies focused on the use of APDMs and project outcomes. Few of these studies have reached a level of statistical significance to make conclusive observations about APDMs. This research effort completes a comprehensive study for use in the horizontal transportation construction market, providing a better basis for decisions on project delivery method selection, improving understanding of best practices for APDM use, and reporting outcomes from the largest collection of APDM project data to date. The study is the result of an online survey of project owners and design teams from 17 states representing 83 projects nationally. Project data collected represents almost six billion US dollars. The study performs an analysis of the transportation APDM market and answers questions dealing with national APDM usage, motivators for APDM selection, the relation of APDM to pre-construction services, and the use of industry best practices. Top motivators for delivery method selection: the project schedule or the urgency of the project, the ability to predict and control cost, and finding the best method to allocate risk, as well as other factors were identified and analyzed. Analysis of project data was used to compare to commonly held assumptions about the project delivery methods, confirming some assumptions and refuting others. Project data showed that APDM projects had the lowest overall cost growth. DB projects had higher schedule growth. CMAR projects had low design schedule growth but high construction schedule growth. DBB showed very little schedule growth and the highest cost growth of the delivery methods studied. Best practices in project delivery were studied: team alignment, front end planning, and risk assessment were identified as practices most critical to project success. The study contributes and improves on existing research on APDM project selection and outcomes and fills many of the gaps in research identified by previous research efforts and industry leaders. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil Engineering 2014

Thesis (DTech (Architectural Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016. / This research explores design-build projects in architectural education. The design-build studio is an alternative to the conventional theory-oriented studio. In design-build projects students both design and build real buildings. Internationally, design-build projects have increased rapidly in architectural programmes over the past decade. Literature suggests that design-build projects are relevant for architectural education, but that there is a definite need for more theoretical and critical exploration. Design-build projects in the context of this study are defined as socially responsive, inhabitable, full-scale investigations. The value of this pedagogical construct for educators, students, architectural practice and society in general was an underpinning theme guiding this exploration. Design-build projects are located on the boundary between theory and practice. This research provides a view into my journey across this boundary, immersing myself in both the theoretical and practical. Principles of the designbuild process and design research mapped the research path. The research process commenced with the initiation of and active participation in a number of design-build constructions. Through critical reflection on the construction experiences and the literature, specific pedagogical and practice implications were explored. Cultural historical activity theory provided me with a sense of theoretical direction in this journey. Collaboration as a pedagogical tool and the possibility of exposing students to alternative practice possibilities were foregrounded as being uniquely situated within the design-build project. The value of this research is the contribution it makes to the current international call for a clearer understanding of the pedagogical and practice merit of design-build projects.

abstract: Water utilities across the United States are facing numerous challenges, such as limited funding and increasing project complexity, in constructing and upgrading their aging infrastructure. One innovative method to overcome these challenges is through the use of alternative project delivery methods (APDM), such as construction management at-risk (CMAR) and design-build (DB). Previous research has shown that APDM have the potential to deliver higher performing water infrastructure projects when compared to the traditional design-bid-build (DBB) method. However, there is a need to further examine APDM practices and develop tools that may support utilities in the delivery of their APDM water infrastructure projects. This study fills the knowledge gap by conducting several studies that may support public and private utilities in improving the delivery of their APDM water infrastructure projects. First, APDM implementation practices for water infrastructure projects are identified by assessing the state of practice, particularly during project procurement and execution. Second, DB project administration best practices are determined to support utilities seeking to add DB to their organization’s project delivery toolbox. Third, a pioneering web-based project delivery method decision-support tool was developed to aid utilities in selecting the appropriate delivery method for their water project. Finally, project-specific factors and attributes that impact project delivery performance are investigated through exploratory modeling and analysis. The study collected data on 75 completed treatment plant projects, conducted interviews with ten utilities that successfully deliver their water projects using DB, and worked closely with several industry experts through industry workshops and panels. Key findings related to water infrastructure project delivery revealed in this study included: (1) guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is the preferred compensation type for APDM projects; (2) utilities statistically having the lowest comfort level with delivering CMAR projects; (3) qualifications-based procurement is an effective DB project delivery practice; (4) the identification of 13 key project delivery method selection factors; and (5) the three highest predictors that impact unit cost performance are project complexity, project team chemistry and communication, and project size. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2020

Design/Build education in architecture schools is growing in popularity across North America. I have researched the development of this movement, particularly as it has influenced educational programs. This paper begins with a review of the history of design/build at the University level. These historical precedents chart the course of several major benchmarks that have influenced design/build in the United States over the past 100 years. The second part of the study features a matrix highlighting seven current academic programs with long-term success in design/build. Then, I highlight my own design/build experiences within this format. After determining successful design/build programming, I used this information to develop a new curriculum. To test this new system, I led the development and realization of a local design/build project involving a Five College undergraduate team. This small-scale project was chosen in January and the physical build occurred in March, 2015. Completion of this project allowed for a critical analysis of this new method. This paper compares my results with the initial definition of program successes in an attempt to determine best practices for design/build curriculum moving forward.

Stora infrastrukturprojekt kännetecknas ofta av osäkerheter och att många arbetsmoment och tekniker både är komplexa och icke-rutinmässiga. Som svar på komplexiteten och osäkerheterna blir entreprenadformen totalentreprenad allt mer förekommande inom anläggnings- och infrastruktursektorn. I totalentreprenader ansvarar entreprenören för projekteringen men på grund av komplexiteten på projekten saknar entreprenören ofta den nödvändiga kunskapen för att genomföra projekteringen och således behöver en eller flera externa projektörer upphandlas. Detta anses vara en av de främsta fördelarna med entreprenadformen då den främjar ett ökat kunskapsutbyte mellan projektörer och entreprenörer vilket, i teorin, bör leda till en optimering av resultatet gällande både projekteringen och produktionen. I anbudsskedet för totalentreprenader ska entreprenören, utifrån översiktliga funktionsbeskrivningar, projektera och prissätta projektet. Ett problem med anbudsprojektering för totalentreprenader är att konsultkostnaderna betalas av totalentreprenören och om entreprenören inte bli tilldelad entreprenaden är kostnaden för projekteringen förlorade pengar. Anbudsprojekteringen blir således en balansgång för entreprenören att projektera i tillräcklig utsträckning för att identifiera kostnadseffektiva lösningar samtidigt som projekteringskostnaderna hålls nere. Tidigare studier om upphandling av anläggningsprojekt har främst fokuserat på entreprenadupphandling medan det finns begränsat med forskning kring upphandling av konsulter. Syftet med studien har således varit att undersöka hur arbetet med upphandling och genomförandet av anbudsprojektering vid totalentreprenader för anläggningsprojekt sker i dagsläget. Med studien avsågs det även att kartlägga vilka som anses vara de största utmaningar som finns i arbetet med upphandling och genomförande av anbudsprojektering för totalentreprenader. Utifrån de identifierade utmaningarna var målet sedan att fram rekommendationer som byggföretag skulle kunna använda sig av för att förbättra arbetet med att anbudsprojektering. För att besvara studiens forskningsfrågor samt uppfylla studiens syfte och mål har studien genomförts med hjälp av en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi där fokus har varit att skapa djupare förståelse för problemområdet. Insamling av data för studien har primärt genomförts genom två olika insamlingsmetoder, en litteraturstudie och en intervjustudie. Intervjustudien är den huvudsakliga datainsamlingen i studien och består av totalt tio stycken semistrukturerade intervjuer, tre stycken med projektörer och sju stycken med entreprenörer. Genom att intervjua både projektörer och entreprenörer erhålls möjligheten att analysera processen och jämföra åsikterna mellan de inblandade parterna. Studien visar att anbudsprojektering är en komplex process som kännetecknas av osäkerheter och tidspress där de inblandade parterna saknar erfarenhet och kunskap för att kunna bedriva ett effektivt arbete. Studien visar även att valet av upphandlingsstrategi både har stor påverkan på resultatet av projekteringen samt en direkt påverkan på hur genomförandet av anbudsprojekteringen måste utföras. Entreprenörer är vana vid traditionell, kontrollfokuserad projektledning med fokus på tid och pengar medan anbudsprocessen, som är kantad av osäkerheter och tidspress, kräver ett utvecklat projektledarskap med fokus på samarbete, explorativt lärande och anpassning. / Large projects in the infrastructure sector are characterized by the fact that many work steps and techniques are both complex and non-routine. In response to the complexity and uncertainties, design-build contracts are becoming more and more common in the infrastructure sector. In design-build contracts, the contractor is responsible for the design, however, due to the complexity of the projects, the contractor often lacks the necessary knowledge to carry out the design and thus an external consultant needs to be procured. The advantage of design-build contracts is that it promotes an increased exchange of knowledge between the consultants and contractors, which, potentially, should be able to optimize both the design process and the production in order to respond to the complexity of the projects. In the tendering stage of design-build contracts, the contractor have to, based on general descriptions, design and calculate a price for the project. A major problem with the tendering design for design-build contracts is that the consulting costs are paid by the contractor and if the contractor is not awarded the contract for the project, the cost of the design is considered as lost money. The contractor must therefore choose between designing the project in detail or keeping down the costs of the design work. Previous studies on procurement of infrastructure projects have mainly focused on procurement of the contractor, while the focus on consulting procurement is more unusual. The aim with this study was to investigate how the contractors should work with procurement of design in the tendering stage of design-build contracts in order to create a basis for a successful project. The purpose of the study is to investigate how the work with procurement and implementation of tendering design for design-build contracts for infrastructure projects currently looks like. The study also intends to identify the biggest challenges that exist in the work with procurement and implementation of design in the tendering stage of design-build contracts.  In order to answer the study's purpose and aim, the study has been carried out with a qualitative research strategy where the focus has been on creating a deeper understanding of the problem. The data collection for the study was primarily carried out through two different methods, a literature study and an interview study. The interview study is the main data collection and consists of a total of ten semi-structured interviews, three with consultants and seven with contractors. By interviewing both consultants and contractors, the opportunity to analyse the process and compare the opinions between the parties involved is obtained. The study shows that routines and methods for procurement, assignment specification and project management of design in the tendering stage of design-built contracts are inadequate. The tendering stage in design-build contracts is a complex process where the parties lack experience and knowledge. It also appears in the study that the contractor would need to implement alternative working methods in order to be able to lead this process. Contractors are used to traditional, control-focused project management with a focus on time and money, whilst the tendering process, which is fraught with uncertainties and time pressure, requires a flexibility-focused project leadership with a focus on collaboration, exploratory learning and adaptation.

Esta dissertação trata de questões relativas à experimentação prática no processo de ensino-aprendizagem nos cursos de arquitetura e urbanismo. Com a perspectiva de contribuir com o ensino de arquitetura no Brasil, foram escolhidas para análise duas realidades: a Universidade de São Paulo, no Brasil, com foco nas disciplinas da FAUUSP em que há o desenvolvimento do espaço pedagógico do Canteiro Experimental; e nos Estados Unidos, em comunidades pobres do Alabama, com base no método de trabalho do Rural Studio, da Universidade de Auburn. O Canteiro Experimental da FAUUSP é um equipamento pedagógico e uma proposta metodológica de ensino desenvolvido nos últimos quinze anos, dentro das atividades curriculares práticas construtivas com os alunos. O Rural Studio é um projeto pedagógico formado por estudantes e professores, com metodologia de trabalho de um laboratório de ensino e extensão, que desenvolve com a comunidade beneficiada projetos e depois construções de casas e espaços coletivos para assentamentos pobres do sul dos Estados Unidos. O trabalho analisa a influência desses processos educativos na formação de um arquiteto com prática profissional direcionada à população atualmente desatendida, considerando a importância fundamental da educação na promoção de transformações sociais. Para isso, a pesquisa abordará em um primeiro momento a relação da evolução dos movimentos de moradia, das políticas públicas habitacionais no Brasil e as teorias do grupo \"Arquitetura Nova\" com as iniciativas decorrentes nas Escolas de Arquitetura como os Laboratórios de Habitação e Canteiros Experimentais. Em seguida, analisará o Canteiro Experimental da FAUUSP, procurando entender como este espaço de práticas construtivas pode ser estendido a atividades dentro de comunidades. Para, enfim, fazer uma análise do grupo americano e compreender as possíveis contribuições que podem ser incorporadas à realidade brasileira. Ao resgatar experiências inovadoras, o presente projeto visa ainda contribuir para uma necessária renovação do ensino de arquitetura no Brasil, aproximando a teoria da prática construtiva e a Universidade da comunidade. / This dissertation deals with issues of practical experimentation in the process of teaching-learning courses in architecture and urbanism. With the prospect of contributing to the teaching of architecture in Brazil, two realities were selected for analysis: the University of São Paulo, in Brazil , focusing on the disciplines of FAUUSP where the is the development of the pedagogical space at the Experimental Job Site; and the United States, in poor communities in Alabama, based on the method of work of the Rural Studio, of the Auburn University. Experimental Job Site of FAU is a teaching equipment and methodology developed in the last fifteen years within the construction practices curricular activities of students. The Rural Studio is a pedagogical project formed by students and teachers, with methodology of a laboratory for teaching and extension, which develops with the benefiting community projects and then constructs houses and collective spaces for poor settlements of the southern United States. The paper analyzes the influence of these educational processes in the formation of an architect with professional practice directed to the currently underserved population, considering the fundamental importance of education in promoting social change. Therefore, the research will focus at first on the relationship of the development of housing movements, of public housing policies in Brazil and the theories of the group \"New Architecture\" with initiatives arising in the Schools of Architecture as the Housing Laboratories and Experimental Job Site. Then examines the Experimental Job Site of FAU, trying to understand how this space of construction practices can be extended to activities within communities. To finally make an analysis of the American group and understand the possible contributions that can be incorporated to the Brazilian reality. By rescuing innovative experiences, this project aims to contribute to a necessary renewal of architectural education in Brazil, bringing the theory of constructive practice and the University of the community.

Esta tese possui como perspectiva de análise as manifestações contemporâneas de produção das arquiteturas vernáculas e culturas construtivas, dentro da complexa correlação de forças e interesses que formatam e determinam os fenômenos de produção capitalista das habitações populares. Seu contorno analítico está delineado a partir de uma série de reflexões de ordem teórico-conceituais relacionadas com as análises de um canteiro habitacional dentro de um assentamento rural de reforma agrária. Este, assume a forma de um Canteiro-Escola e se projeta como palco de experimentações e vivências, onde se propõe como prática o exercício de conjugar pedagogia e produção no mesmo espaço. Os processos de formação e construção dos conhecimentos ocorrem de maneira complementar e simultânea às realizações práticas e ao desenvolvimento das tecnologias. O canteiro se transforma, assim, em ferramenta para constituição de um espaço dialético de trabalho social, onde o experimentar produtivo está focado no desafio de conceber uma habitação a partir da geração local de tecnologias sociais, por meio do uso de materiais naturais e da reutilização de recursos descartados. O trabalho teórico, apresentado nas primeiras partes da tese, define o quadro de sua práxis, que por sua vez, realimenta a reflexão sobre os processos de produção e desenvolvimento de novas formas de arquiteturas vernáculas, integradas aos seus territórios. / This thesis takes as its analytical perspective the contemporary manifestations of vernacular architecture production and building cultures within the complex correlation of forces and interests that shape and determine the phenomena of capitalist production of popular housing. The analytic framework is delineated from a series of reflections of theoretical and conceptual order, in relation to the analysis of a popular housing building site within an agrarian reform rural settlement in Brazil. This assumes the form of a field school in loco on the building site and is projected as a stage for experiments and experiences, where the proposal is to combine pedagogy and production in the same space. The processes of knowledge formation and construction occur simultaneously and complementarily to practical achievements and development of technologies. This building site is thus transformed into a tool for the constitution of a dialectical space of social work, where the orientation of its productive experimenting is focused on the challenge of designing a house from the local generation of social technologies, through the use of natural materials and reuse of discarded resources. A theoretical work, presented in the initial of the thesis, provides the framework for this fieldwork, which feeds back our reflection on processes of production and development of new vernacular architectures, integrated into their territories.

abstract: The demand for new highway infrastructure, the need to repair aging infrastructure, and the drive to optimize public expenditures on infrastructure have led transportation agencies toward alternative contracting methods (ACMs) such as design-build (DB) and construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC). U.S. transportation agencies have substantial experience with traditional design-bid-build delivery. To promote ACMs, the Federal Highway Administration and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCRHP) have published ACM guidance documents. However, the published material and research tend to focus on pre-award activities. The need for guidance on ACM post-award activities is confirmed in NCHRP’s request for a guidebook focusing on ACM contract administration (NCHRP 2016). This dissertation fills the crucial knowledge gap in contract administration functions and tools for DB and CM/GC highway project delivery. First, this research identifies and models contract administration functions in DBB, CM/GC, and DB using integrated definition modeling (IDEF0). Second, this research identifies and analyzes DB and CM/GC tools for contract administration by conducting 30 ACM project case studies involving over 90 ACM practitioners. Recommendations on appropriate use regarding project phase, complexity, and size were gathered from 16 ACM practitioners. Third, the alternative technical concepts tool was studied. Data from 30 DB projects was analyzed to explore the timing of DB procurement and DB initial award performance in relation to the project influence curve. Types of innovations derived from ATCs are discussed. Considerable industry input at multiple stages grounds this research in professional practice. Results indicate that the involvement of the contractor during the design phase for both DB and CM/GC delivery creates unique contract administration functions that need unique tools. Thirty-six DB and CM/GC tools for contract administration are identified with recommendations for effective implementation. While strong initial award performance is achievable in DB projects, initial award performance in this sample of projects is only loosely tied to the level of percent base design at procurement. Cost savings typically come from multiple ATCs, and innovations tend to be incremental rather than systemic, disruptive, or radical. Opportunity for innovation on DB highway projects is influenced by project characteristics and engaging the DB entity after pre-project planning. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2019