Most clients
picture construction as a sequence: hire an architect, then hire a contractor.
It's familiar — but not always the most effective approach. For many Calgary
projects, the design-build model offers significant advantages in cost control,
schedule, and quality.
In traditional
delivery, designers and contractors hold separate contracts, with the owner
managing the relationship between them. In design-build, a single integrated
team handles both design and construction under one point of accountability —
from concept through completion.
On traditional
projects, disputes between designers and contractors become the owner's
problem. Under design-build, those are the team's problem to resolve. This
creates a fundamentally different dynamic — one where everyone is incentivized
to get it right the first time.
Design and
construction can run concurrently — foundations begin while upper-level design
is finalized. In Calgary's market, where weather windows are limited, schedule
compression has real value. For commercial clients, earlier occupancy means
earlier revenue.
Design-build integrates cost feedback throughout the design phase, so adjustments happen before specifications are locked in — not at tender closing. Early contractor involvement also catches constructability issues during design rather than on site.
Design-build
suits projects where schedule is a priority, the owner wants minimal
administrative involvement, and scope can be reasonably defined upfront. It
works particularly well for commercial tenant improvements, industrial
facilities, and residential renovations.
Catapulta
Contracting Inc. brings construction management expertise into the design
process from day one, working with a network of architects and engineers
aligned with our collaborative delivery philosophy. The result: projects
delivered on schedule, within budget, and built to the standard our clients
expect.