Over the years roles became more defined between design and construction and the two became very specialized and separate. Recently firms have been dedicated to bringing the concept of the master builder back with the intention of producing a better overall product. The Jersey Devil Design Build (JDDB) organization is a good example of this as they are a group of grass roots architects that have been providing integrated design build services on all their projects over the past 25 years. (JDDB, 2009). Over the years JDDB has traveled from site to site while living in Airstream trailers during the construction of their designs. They dedicated their careers to executing the intricate detail incorporated in their designs, from vision to final completion of construction. As stated by the workshop, “Jersey Devil's architecture shows a concern for craft and detail, an attention to the expressiveness of the construction materials, and a strong environmental consciousness" (JDDB, 2009).
Another major contributor to this design/build movement was Samuel Mockbee, an architect that began the “Rural Studio” in the early 1990’s (Dean, 2002). The Rural Studio was a design initiative used as a vehicle focused on aiding impoverished rural areas across the country. Mockbee would design much needed structures in low income communities while assembling a team of people that would travel to sites and gather building materials. Mockbee also taught at Auburn University, where he implemented this initiative and involved the students as part of a curriculum. Today, many other universities have restructured their programs accordingly.
Each of these contributors had a specific reason for carrying through projects as an integrated approach. The majority of the time the key factor was linked to a faster turnaround time, a cost savings, or retaining an importance to detail. Regardless of their intentions we have learned that integrating various services in the beginning of a project will help to produce a more quality controlled, more aggressive timeframe, and ultimately more budget conscious project.
Possibilities
As an architect working in a Design/Build integrated firm I have experienced how technology has an abundant presence in terms of the design process. It is beneficial to use many programs and incorporate as much information as possible in the beginning of a project in order to avoid future complications. Due to this embraced effort the concept of Building Information Modeling, most often referred to as BIM systems or BIMS, has become very popular. The BIM systems will take a project from a three-dimensional model and use it for cost and phase modeling, while programs such as Revit, Navisworks, InnoVia, and DProfiler will begin to dissect a project design and offer cost analysis, clash detection, phase modeling, and many other visualization tools.
Revit is a three-dimensional software that replaces the standard drafting programs previously used by architects and engineers during the design process. Rather than drafting in a typical two-dimensional format, the project is physically built in the model early on. The model is then passed between consultants for evaluation. The model can also be sent to subcontractors that can easily produce quantity take-offs for their bids. The model can also be transferred to another program called Navisworks, which studies a building with all components assembled for quality control of architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and any other key components.
This model can be used further for 3D scheduling, where the components of the building are separated into phases. Animation that displays how a complicated project will be built in the time allotted taking into consideration issues of sequencing of materials, construction staging areas, and city ordinances can also be produced from this model. This type of phase model has been used heavily by contractors to forecast the schedule needed to get the project built as clients today are on tight budgets and strict schedules.
One of the most important components of 3D modeling is involving cost analysis in conjunction with early design. DProfiler is an additional program developed that will automatically associate a cost with each material. Its intention is to be used on a collaborative approach integrating the design and construction together.
In today’s economy it is beneficial to have information assembled on a project that will provide as much cost analysis as possible in the pre-design phase. Without this, it becomes impossible to forecast the future. Information established early in the process only enables the project to move further, assuring advancement to a successful completion. The initiative is to search for true hard information to provide the team in order to have better control over a project as it moves forward.
However, there are mixed feelings about this approach as clients are accustomed to the standard approach of the past where the developer hires the architect, the architect draws the building, the contractor prices it, and the building is value engineered until the developer is happy with the budget. Another past approach is when the developer hires the contractor, the contractor controls the architect and the design, and the project is driven by cost only. Both methodologies have caused projects suffer. With this new approach, the developer can come to a design build team and collaborate early on in the project. Communication between development, design, and pricing will eliminated many surprises.
Although old-fashioned clients may have concerns with this because they are giving up some control of the hard bid which usually occurs for the selection of the construction contract at the end of drawing phases, it is a different and more efficient way of understanding.
Integration is a plausible approach when circumstances will gravitate towards rejection if high budgets are not reduced. The projects of the Rural Studio are low income projects which are very cost sensitive, therefore, budget constraints need to be considered as much as the design. In the integrated approach, a project has a better chance of being built if the feasibility is presented properly enabling early secured financing.
With integration, intent of a low income project can be conveyed early in the schematic phase to consultants and subcontractors enabling collaboration on cost effective materials in strategic places for the design. An early bid/award process between subcontractors will provide a preliminary analysis of techniques and building components for the most economical performance. This approach is so efficient, nonprofit projects are moving to design build as an alternative to the traditional method as well.
In the building industry, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has become instrumental in promoting certification of energy efficient buildings and sustainable design (USGBC, 2009). The USGBC proposed the LEED rating system at the beginning of the decade, and it has grown immensely since its origination. The LEED certification, which means Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a guideline to follow for building design and construction processes established to promote green practices. (USGBC, 2009)
Since its origination the amount of LEED certified buildings have grown annually (USGBC, 2009). Reasons for certification will vary from owner to owner; one may do it for operation savings, one for the good of the earth, and another for public recognition. USGBC has, however, emphasized the approach of design build integration for LEED certified projects promoting collaboration early on in the design process. A key element in LEED certification is not only regulating architectural components (slabs, walls, roofs), but also to reduce emissions and off gassing of mechanical equipment, energy consumption, demolition, and waste (USGBC, 2009). LEED also promotes energy efficiency and construction standards, which are to be collaborative between the designers and the builders (USGBC, 2009). Sustainability begins with design and ends in the construction and regular maintenance of building, and is naturally implemented much easier with an integrated team.
Another one of today’s building techniques receiving an abundant amount of attention is prefabrication. Prefab buildings incorporate many of the design initiatives discussed; budget, a time sensitive schedule, and a sustainable nature. Designed with the aspect of assembly and construction on the forefront, it is important that prefab buildings be designed and built as one element.
rather an implementation of an old one. One of the first notable design builders was Filippo Brunelleschi, an architect of the Renaissance time period often referred to as a master builder. (Battisti, 1981) 
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