The panel discussion will be centered on two projects: Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP) and the Project Management Office at the Houston Airport System. The 5 panelists will be covering all major aspects of Progressive Design-Build.

Progressive Design-Build (PDB) is a project delivery method that combines elements of both design-build and traditional design-bid-build approaches. It is a collaborative and iterative process that allows for flexibility and involvement of the owner, designer, and builder throughout the project.

In a traditional design-bid-build approach, the owner contracts separately with a designer/architect for the design phase and then with a contractor for the construction phase. However, in a progressive design-build approach, the owner selects a design-build team early in the project, typically based on qualifications, experience, and a conceptual design proposal.

The key characteristic of progressive design-build is the involvement of the owner in the design development process. Unlike traditional design-build, where the owner hands over most design decisions to the design-build team, in PDB, the owner actively participates in the design process alongside the design-build team.

The PDB process typically follows these stages:

1. Pre-Qualification: The owner evaluates and shortlists design-build teams based on their qualifications, experience, and expertise.

2. Request for Proposal (RFP): The owner issues an RFP to the shortlisted design-build teams, outlining project requirements, goals, and evaluation criteria. The RFP may also include a preliminary design concept.

3. Proposal and Selection: Design-build teams submit proposals, including their qualifications, approach, schedule, and cost estimates. The owner evaluates the proposals and selects a preferred team.

4. Design Development: The owner and the design-build team collaborate to develop the design further. This stage involves refining the conceptual design, addressing technical details, and incorporating the owner's input.

5. Cost Estimating and Value Engineering: Throughout the design development process, the design-build team works closely with the owner to ensure the project remains within budget. Value engineering techniques are employed to optimize costs and identify potential cost-saving measures.

6. Construction: Once the design is sufficiently developed and all necessary permits and approvals are obtained, the construction phase begins. The design-build team executes the construction work based on the developed design.

Progressive design-build allows for ongoing collaboration, transparency, and innovation. The early involvement of the design-build team and the owner helps in streamlining the decision-making process, reducing change orders, and fostering a cooperative working relationship. It also enables the owner to have greater control over the project's design and budget, resulting in a final product that better meets their needs and expectations.