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Construction And Design

Construction and design are the two major elements of the building process. Without a proper design, no project can truly get off the ground.

When it comes to construction and design, it is important to understand the role of the architect, computer modeler or other kind of designer has before any actual construction takes place. For centuries, construction and design began on paper, with the creation of drawings, to a certain scale, of the project that was to be built. In the 20th century, those drawings became blueprints; more recently, the first steps of construction and design can be found on computer screens, as three-dimensional modeling has becoming used more and more often.

In past centuries, the first steps of construction and design were handled by one or two architects, who laid out the basics for, in most cases, relatively simple structures. Now, it is more likely a design team is assembled to lay out the plan for the project. The design team usually includes architects, interior designers, surveyors, civil engineers, cost analysts, and many different kinds of engineers, including mechanical, electrical and structural engineers. Since this is an elementary step in the construction and design process, the design team is typically organized and paid for by the property owner. Once the design team has finished its work, it then puts the project out for bid for general contractors. In most cases, the lowest bidder is awarded the construction contract.

Construction and design is beginning to change, however, with the emergence of the design-build process. Instead of making the design and construction contracts two different steps, many property owners are now looking to find an architect-builder team that will take care of all the steps themselves. Instead of relying on a design team to handle the first step of construction and design, the owner opens the entire process up for bids, awaiting each architect-builder team's design and cost estimate. Supporters of design-build believe that the process will simplify construction and design, and the architect and general contractor have already established a working relationship with each other and know how one another operates. This rapport, supporters say, will likely lead to a faster turnaround time and a more cost-effective final product.

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