Water & Wastewater

Growth—How Design-Build Keeps Up: High-Velocity Infrastructure Delivery through Mindset, Markets, & Mentorship

MAY 08

BREAKOUT SESSION #2

3:30 PM

Breakout Rooms

1.0 DBIA CEH

In an era of unprecedented population booms and volatile market conditions, traditional "command and control" delivery models are often too slow to meet the immediate demands for water and wastewater infrastructure. This session explores how a fundamental "mental shift" in project delivery allows municipalities to outpace growth

Instead of a narrow case study, representatives from MGC and Freese and Nichols present a broad-based roadmap for accelerating project lifecycles by integrating design and construction from day one. The presentation will dive into the mechanics of continuous cost modeling, proactive resource sequencing to combat material scarcities, and the "healthy friction" between contractor and engineer that keeps schedules on track. Attendees will learn how to move beyond silos to create an active learning environment—where operators are involved during the design phase to ensure a resilient, future-ready facility.

Learning Objectives:

Analyze the "Mental Shift" in Collaborative Delivery: Identify the specific changes in roles for Owners and Engineers—moving from isolated milestones to real-time collaboration on cost, risk, and constructability.
Evaluate Strategies for Expedited Infrastructure Expansion: Explain how integrating design and construction allows for early procurement and construction starts, enabling municipalities to meet rapid population demands more effectively than traditional design-bid-build.
Implement Proactive Market Constraint Mitigation: Utilize early collaboration between designers, builders, and trade partners to identify labor and material risks, sequence work effectively, and recommend alternative methods to maintain momentum during shortages.
Optimize Operational Readiness and Project Efficiency: Apply "active learning" techniques by involving facility operators and engineers during the design phase to reduce startup issues and streamline the submittal process through direct communication and "healthy friction"