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With the continued growth of design-build, staying ahead means constantly evolving and leveraging the best tools and resources available. DBIA’s online Bookstore and extensive programming are designed to support your projects, improving outcomes and ensuring teams have the most up-to-date information for delivering successful Design-Build Done Right® projects.
Since last spring, we’ve released a wealth of new and updated resources to help teams deliver better projects, leverage the benefits of design-build and decide when –– or if –– design-build is the right delivery method. Our advocacy and legislative efforts also play a crucial role in advancing the industry, ensuring a favorable environment for design-build projects. Additionally, our conferences, social media and Design-Build Delivers Podcast, webinars and blog offer insider perspectives on these DBIA resources and design-build in action.
However, keeping up with the growing treasure chest of resources can be overwhelming. You might be wondering how to make the most of what DBIA has to offer. Let’s explore some ways to maximize the value of these resources and integrate them into your projects and teams.
Overview of New Resources
First, let’s look at the numerous new and updated resources DBIA has released over the past year, all available through the DBIA Bookstore.
Best Practices Primers and Deeper Dives
Comprehensive guidelines to ensure your projects adhere to consistent and high Design-Build Done Right® standards
- Universal Best Practices: Covers the fundamental principles of design-build applicable across various sectors.
- Transportation and Aviation: Specific best practices tailored for transportation and aviation projects.
- Water/Wastewater: Guidelines focused on projects within the water and wastewater sectors.
- Federal: Best practices designed for federal projects, addressing unique regulatory requirements.
- Virtual Design & Construction: Educates and elevates DBIA membership and industry on the importance of VDC Done Right.
- Deeper Dive –– PDB: Provides in-depth insights into Progressive Design-Build.
Position Statements
Resources that provide foundational knowledge on critical topics and describe DBIA’s stance on issues
- Project Delivery: Explains different project delivery methods and their applications.
- Design Excellence: Focuses on achieving high-quality design within the design-build framework.
- Bridging Documents: Discusses the role and use of bridging documents in design-build projects.
- VDC Position Statement: Outlines the benefits and implementation of Virtual Design and Construction.
- DEI: Emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry.
Contracts
Essential tools for streamlining project management and ensuring legal compliance
- DEI: Contract language promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Owner Advisor: Contracts specifically designed for Owner Advisors in design-build projects.
- Insurance Exhibits: Templates to help manage insurance requirements and liabilities.
Legislation
Updates on the ever-changing face of design-build legislation and tools to help advocate in your state
- State Statute Report: An essential guide to understanding the legislative landscape affecting design-build.
- Legislation Guide and Model Legislation Addendum: Tools for navigating and advocating for favorable legislation.
Data and Trends
Support for design-build by the numbers
- 2023 Design-Build Data Sourcebook: All of DBIA’s key statistics in one easily digestible package.
- 2023 FMI Market Trends Research Report: Study led by FMI Consulting providing forecast for the growth of design-build.
Webinars, Certification Workshops and Education Courses
We’ve also introduced additional programming and courses, with both virtual and in-person options, through our Learning Center to help you add to your design-build expertise. They cover a wide range of topics, providing in-depth design-build knowledge and practical insights.
- Collaborative Delivery Leadership Academy: An in-depth six-course training focused on distinct skillsets of the Design-Build Done Right® leadership model.
- Design-Build Delivers Webinars: Monthly webinars offering the latest industry insights and best practices.
- Certification Workshops: DBIA certifications provide the only measurable standard to evaluate a professional’s understanding of Design-Build Done Right®. DBIA increased the number of Certification Workshop offerings to accommodate the change in the Certification curriculum rolling out this Fall.
- Company-Based Training: Tailored training developed to fit an organization’s needs by bringing our educators to your workplace.
This is certainly not an exhaustive list of all of DBIA’s resources. Please be sure to visit the DBIA Bookstore and Learning Center for more information.
How to Use DBIA Resources for Your Projects
Now that we have an idea of what DBIA offers to help keep you informed and prepared, how can you and your teams leverage these resources to increase the chances of delivering successful projects?
Best Practices Documents
DBIA’s Best Practices documents are the cornerstone of successful design-build projects. The Universal Design-Build Best Practices set the standard for design-build broadly, while sector-specific best practices offer crucial insights unique to different markets. Incorporating these best practices into your projects ensures a consistent approach that aligns with industry standards.
How to Get the Most Out of Best Practices:
- Familiarize Your Team: Make sure all team members are aware of and understand the best practices. Consider holding a workshop or training session to go over key points.
- Regular Reviews: Schedule regular meetings to review and discuss how these best practices are being implemented. Use these meetings to address any challenges and make necessary adjustments.
- Continuous Improvement: Use feedback from projects to continuously refine and improve adherence to best practices. Encourage team members to share their experiences and suggestions for improvement.
Webinars, Workshops and Education Courses
DBIA’s webinars, workshops and education courses keep you informed about the latest in design-build, and they provide a platform to learn from experts and engage with peers.
Making the Best of DBIA Education and Training:
- Stay Informed: Subscribe to DBIA emails and regularly check the events calendar to stay updated on upcoming webinars and training sessions.
- Engage Actively: Participate in live sessions and ask questions to get the most out of the experience. Take notes and share them with your team.
- Get Certified: As the use of design-build continues to grow, more Owners are looking for design-build certified professionals to deliver their projects. Consider going for your DBIA® or Assoc. DBIA®.
- Share Knowledge: Hold team debriefs after webinars to share insights and discuss how to apply new knowledge. Create a summary of key takeaways and action items for future reference.
Networking and Community Engagement
None of us can do this alone. Delivering successful design-build projects requires active participation in the industry. Engaging with the DBIA community is invaluable for staying updated and finding support. Networking helps you connect with industry peers, share insights and collaborate on projects.
Ways to Become an Active Community Member:
- Attend Events: Participate in DBIA events and conferences to connect with industry peers. Make a plan to attend specific sessions and networking events that align with your interests and goals.
- Join Discussions: Engage in online forums and social media discussions to share insights and ask questions. Join DBIA groups on LinkedIn and participate in relevant discussions.
- Collaborate: Look for opportunities to collaborate with other members on projects or initiatives. Use DBIA’s networking tools and resources to find potential partners and collaborators.
- Industry Match is the nation’s only online tool helping Owners and industry find qualified design-builders.
- DBIA’s Project Database is a dynamic showcase of design-build’s role in shaping the future of the AEC industry, from small projects to megaprojects.
- CareerSpot is DBIA’s premier online job portal for job seekers and employers in the AEC industry.
Staying Informed and Up to Date
With so many resources available and the need to stay ahead of industry trends, it’s important to stay informed about new releases and updates.
Where to Find the Latest News and Topics:
- Design-Build Delivers Blog: The Design-Build Delivers Blog is your shortcut to news, insights and trends in design-build, featuring perspectives from inside DBIA and throughout the AEC industry.
- DBIA Social Media: Follow us and join the conversation on LinkedIn, Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook and YouTube.
- Design-Build Delivers Podcast and Bonus Content: Listen to insightful conversations with industry leaders, bridging insights with practical applications to explore the flexibility of design-build.
How to Stay on Top of Design-Build:
- Sign Up for DBIA Updates: Connect with us to be the first to hear news, learn about new programming and resources and otherwise stay informed.
- Make Regular Visits: Make it a habit to regularly check the DBIA website and blog for new content. Schedule a monthly review to ensure you’re not missing out on any important updates.
- Share Feedback: Provide feedback to DBIA to help improve future resources and ensure they meet your needs. Share your experiences and suggestions for new topics or improvements.
Enhancing Your Design-Build Experience with DBIA
Engaging with DBIA’s resources to their fullest potential can greatly enhance your projects and support the continued growth of Design-Build Done Right®, but we know it can be overwhelming to keep up with everything. Use this brief guide as yet another resource that can help you establish a starting point for getting the most out of what DBIA has to offer.
And if you aren’t yet a DBIA member, become one today! You could be receiving significant discounts and accessing free resources as a member. Learn more about the benefits and how to apply for membership.