Design-build has grown rapidly in the United States, especially since 1985. It is predicted that one-half of all projects will use design-build by the year 2010. Most of this growth is in the public sector where state and federal agencies have enacted laws that permit use of alternative project delivery. As of 2006, only five states did not have any law on the books to address design-build and more than 200 bills are introduced each year in the state legislatures to expand the use of design-build. Most of design-build is contractor-led, resulting in architects becoming subcontractors, with no direct contract with the owner/end user. Architects need to understand what is driving the market this way to be able to compete and to deliver what owners want.

   Learning objectives:

• Discuss the rapid growth of design-build in the public sector
• Appraise why public owners are turning to design-build to solve their problems and meet their needs
• Determine ways that architects can better compete in the design-build market