Enabling Faster Project Delivery through Use of Construction-Driven Designs

The constant pressure to deliver emergency projects (e.g., emergency rebuild due to natural disasters) and non-emergency projects (e.g., first to market) at a faster rate requires flash tracking, delivery approach characterized by a heightened concurrency between the project phases and the involvement of the key upstream and downstream stakeholders early in the planning and design process. To enable flash tracking, the construction-driven design has evolved as a program delivery process that integrates the building approach with the design process where the contractor has the primary authority over the design approach. In addition to the contractor, the involvement of key project stakeholders such as major subcontractors, major equipment vendors, suppliers, and operations and maintenance personnel, early in the design process becomes essential for the construction-driven design and overall project success. Large domestic and global construction and design firms have been using this approach to facilitate faster project delivery and achieve cost savings. Through use of qualitative research methodologies, this paper defines construction-driven designs, describes its characteristics, and identifies the steps required for successful development and execution of the construction-driven-designs. It assesses the preferred timing and the level of involvement of the key stakeholders in the design and discusses stakeholder experience requirements. Additionally, this paper discusses recent project successes using construction-driven approach such as Tappan-Zee Bridge and St. Anthony Falls Bridge. Ultimately, this research will provide guidelines to owners and contractors wishing to use the construction-driven approach to deliver projects at a faster rate.