Design Solutions for Clients that are Builders

Over the years, we have developed our practice with the premise that builders know best how to contain costs. Given the freedom to use their best processes, guided by their considerable experience, contractors and their subcontractors will deliver “best value”.

Since our first project in 1951, LDA has had an on-going working experience with the construction industry. We actively seek out opportunities to engage in design-build, design-assist, and negotiated bid arrangements with the most highly skilled builders. Our collaboration with contractors has resulted in long lasting client relationships, better cost control, and more profitable projects for all parties.

LDA has successfully completed contractor-inclusive projects from $1 million to $200 million. As a part of Integrated Project Delivery teams, we frequently attend the first meeting between builders and owners, and often facilitate their introduction. For most of our Owner-Clients, we routinely recommend some form of early inclusion of a qualified builder.

We bring the following benefits to the process:

• help owners develop their vision for the project

• assist builders to define the scope of their work

• explain regulatory requirements

• explain project process to owners

LDA Architects has a long history of projects designed in cooperation with the construction industry. Starting with our earliest projects, we have combined the qualities of architecture with the knowledge and sensibilities of construction professionals. The result has been award-winning projects that have created long lasting client-builder-architect relationships.

Our arrangements have been as varied as the projects for which they were used, but the results have always been successful and profitable for all parties.

Design-Build

Working under the direction of a construction professional, we provide a design that accompanies a builder’s cost and schedule proposal.

Negotiated Bid

Working closely with a construction professional selected by the client, we provide a design that is assured to meet a predetermined cost and schedule

Design-Assist

Utilizing pre-construction participation from construction professionals acting as independent advisors, in arrangements without contracting for construction.

Under these teamwork arrangements, our clients have included speculative developers, private corporations, governmental agencies, and other architects. Past projects have included phased construction, alternate design bidding, fast-track construction, and other cost and time saving programs. Many projects have utilized new materials and assemblies, creative means and methods, and the carefully considered separation of the work into manageable packages.