SZ Office: Light it up!

Mike T. (one of several McKinstry MVPs), wired our featured pendant lights earlier today. After spending several weeks pulling in new power, roughing-in & trimming out the robust electrical scope, this was a culminating moment for us all. These fixtures (Keegan & Remus) are representative of an expanding catalog of lighting options, now offered by SZ. Click here to learn more!

What is Design-Build?

What is the true value of such a diverse array of offerings – Architecture, Interior Design, Construction, Art and Furnishings?  Their seamless integration yields built environments that beautifully house our daily activities and enrich our sense of being.

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What is Design-Build?

Universally, construction project owners, whether in the public, or private sectors seek timely and cost-effective construction. While there are a variety of views on how best to achieve schedule, budget, and quality, recently there has been a focus upon the method of construction project delivery. There are various construction project delivery systems, the most traditional of which is Design/Bid/Build ("DBB"). For generations, this was the predominately accepted means by which construction projects were developed and delivered. Today there is also a focus on the owner having one primary contractual relationship with an entity that is responsible both for the design and building of the construction project. This project delivery method is called Design/Build ("D/B").

There are two significant features of D/B contracting that distinguish it from other project delivery methods: 1) the first is the relative simplicity of the Owner having a single point of contact for both the design and construction of the project; and 2) the second significant feature is that the risk for design errors shifts from the Owner to the Contractor.


Design-Build Advantages

There are many potential advantages for all parties in a D/B contract, especially when everyone understand the mechanics of the process, as it applies to their project.

1. Time Savings
By combining the selection of a designer and a contractor into one step, the D/B method eliminates time lost in the DBB process. Further, the D/B Contractor is able to start construction before the entire design is completed. For instance, the D/B Contractor can start excavation as soon as the foundation and utility relocation design has been prepared. Meanwhile, the Design professional can continue design work for the rest of the project during excavation.

2. Cost Savings
Potential costs savings can be realized with the D/B system because it has high value engineering capabilities due to the close coordination between the A/E and construction contractor. Construction contractors have direct and real experience with the cost of purchasing and installing materials and, in the D/B system, can share that experience directly with the Design professional during the Design Phase of the project. This process has the potential to translate into lower costs which savings can then be passed on to the Owner.

3. One Point of Contact - "One Stop Shopping"
The one point of contact feature for both design and construction is integral to the D/B system. The advantages of this feature are relative - having only one entity to deal with in many instances will outweigh the oversight benefits an Owner would otherwise get from contracting separately with a Design professional for the project design.

4. Fewer Change Orders
A definite advantage of the D/B system is that an Owner can expect far fewer change orders on a D/B project. However, if an Owner decides it wants a design change during the D/B project, and, that change is not covered by the defined scope of the project, that would be considered an extra. Still, in the D/B system, the Owner is not liable for any errors the Design professional makes because the Design professional is part of the D/B team.

5. Reduced Risk to the Owner
The shifting of liability for design quality from the Owner to the D/B Contractor is one of the most significant features of the D/B project delivery system. The advantage to the Owner is that it now knows from the outset the cost of that risk. As the D/B Contractor is in a better position than the Owner to manage and minimize that risk, this is a significant advantage of D/B contracting.


When Design-Build Should Be Considered

When evaluating whether the D/B methodology would be appropriate for a given project, the following factors should be considered:

A. Schedule
If a project needs to be completed quickly, D/B is an appropriate project delivery system. In the D/B system, the designer and the contractor are better able to coordinate their efforts to ensure that the work is completed in an expeditious manner. Moreover, another potential time-savings can be found in the administration of the change order process for correction of changes. Shifting the risk to the party best able to control it is one of the advantages of D/B. Controlling the risk of that change/correction process includes the ability to accomplish it more quickly.

B. Budget
Additionally, the D/B system offers several cost saving advantages for the budget conscious Owner. Cost savings can be realized by shifting more cost control responsibility to the Contractor. A construction contractor may have experience with materials and methods that meet the Owner's requirements but were not considered by the designer. If cost savings result from the contractor's input to the design, those savings should be passed on to the Owner. Additionally, value engineering proposals, for which the Owner may get only partial financial credit under DBB delivery, should be included in the D/B bid price and the entire savings passed on to the owner.

C. Type of Project
The type of project may be the most significant factor in the choice between D/B and DBB. A good candidate for D/B is a project wherein the performance and form of the finished project is readily described in a scope document.

* Content provided by Lorman Educational Services

Nortis, Inc. - Designing at the Intersection of Technology & Biology

NORTIS, INC.

Woodinville, WA

Nortis is a biotech company with locations in Seattle and Woodinville, WA. Founded by former UW faculty and spun-out in 2011, Nortis has developed technologies for generating small segments of human tissues and organs in microfluidic chips for the in vitro study of human health and disease.  

The technology represents an important alternative to lab animals in pharmaceutical drug development, where more predictive preclinical test models are urgently needed to increase clinical trial success. This advance will overcome a large barrier to developing therapeutic drugs and vaccines for diseases like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.  

Nortis is dedicated to developing a new generation of in vitro systems that advance the discovery of novel therapies and reduce the timeline and costs associated with their translation into the clinic.  - Nortis, Inc 

As Nortis focuses on innovating a wide range of micro-environments, their rapidly expanding company is quickly out-growing their macro-environment in Woodinville, WA. At the same time, their brand identity and marketing strategies are evolving to align with their corporate core values and executive goals. Perfect timing to bring SZ on board to work closely with Nortis' leadership team in providing the following expertise.

EXPERTISE INCLUDES:
• Workplace Strategies - from risk assessment & mitigation planning to dynamic, forward-thinking programming
• Brand Guardian & Storytelling - every space, place & person has a story; the telling of them, in words or design, is where the magic happens
• Employee Experience Design - shaping end-to-end employee experiences that create measurable results & happy employees
• Real Estate Due Diligence - develop tailored site selection scorecard to inform lease options and capital expenditure budgets

As part of our Programming efforts, SZ conducted in-depth interviews with all department leads to gain greater insights into the impressive work being done at Nortis. We wanted to better understand their inner-workings; what inspires them; how they tick. Our ultimate goal was to get into the mindset of the Nortis culture & brand. From there, we found our springboard into strategic and design solutions. 

Our Design Concept: Assembly vs Growth found its roots when watching Neri Oxman, Architect, speak about 'Design at the Intersection of Technology & Biology'. She eloquently pioneers a new age of symbiosis, which we felt directly aligned with the heart and soul of Nortis. Their Woodinville location houses an Environmentally Conditioned Area (ECA) which manufactures their 'chip'. This clean room embodies the engineered, mechanical, synthetic qualities of an assembly line. In poetic contrast is the organic growth of what occurs within these microfluidic chambers of the Nortis chip. We sought to create a built environment that not only facilitates their day-to-day efforts, but also inspires a symbiotic experience.