The American construction sector stands at a crossroads. With demand for new infrastructure, energy and civic spaces skyrocketing, the design and construction industry faces unprecedented challenges and unparalleled opportunities. The path forward is clear: to thrive in this complex, high-stakes environment, project teams must embrace a more collaborative, technology-enabled model of delivery. Nowhere is this more evident than in the rise of design-build and the role of digital collaboration tools that bring it to life.
Collaboration is No Longer Optional
Recent insights from over 2,000 global AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) leaders reveal a powerful trend: collaboration tools are not just nice to have, they’re essential. Revizto’s 2025 Digital Design & Construction Report found that 49% of U.S.-based respondents identified infrastructure as the top growth sector, and yet 42% said their projects experience budget overruns of 11–20%, despite including contingency buffers. Unsurprisingly, the larger the company, the greater the overrun, likely because they are managing larger and more complex projects.
The root causes of these overruns include change orders, unforeseen conditions, design errors and –– perhaps most critically –– poor communication. In an environment where multiple stakeholders must coordinate across disciplines and geographies, siloed information and delayed feedback can derail even the best-laid plans.
This is where design-build has a distinct advantage. By integrating design and construction under a unified contract, teams are better positioned to collaborate early and often, reducing risks and improving outcomes. But integration alone isn’t enough. To realize the full potential of design-build, teams need technology that supports seamless coordination, real-time issue tracking and accessible data sharing. That’s where digital platforms like Revizto come in.
Case In Point: Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.
One powerful example of collaborative technology in action is the renovation of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, the largest in its history. A joint venture (JV) team comprising Clark Construction, Smoot Construction and Consigli Construction leveraged a unified BIM ecosystem to streamline communication across architects, engineers and Owners from day one.
By centralizing all models and design data in a common environment, the team could flag, assign and resolve issues quickly, often before they impacted the field. The result was a smoother renovation process, greater certainty and a lasting digital asset for long-term operations. As Jack Moran, Director of VDC and Integrated Services at the JV, said, “We established this goal: how can we bring the best of us to the table? It was an open discussion about what technologies and tools we’ve all found to be successful and how they can be leveraged on this project. Revizto was one of those [tools] that fit not just our want but our need to have a highly collaborative project.”
The Cost of Inaction
Forward-thinking Owners, like the Smithsonian Institution, demonstrate the power of early adoption. Their willingness to embrace collaborative technology early in the project lifecycle set a strong foundation for successful delivery and long-term value. However, not all stakeholders in the AEC industry have been as proactive. Historically, the construction sector has been slow to digitize. While attitudes are shifting and more firms are exploring new tools, widespread adoption and the productivity gains that come with it still lag. According to the report, technology integration and implementation is the #1 business challenge facing AEC firms today, but the reason may surprise you. It’s not cost. The top barrier to adopting new technology is time, specifically the perceived time required to deploy solutions and train staff across project teams. Following closely is a lack of clear mandate or policy that requires teams to use specific tools. Without that guidance, adoption remains fragmented and inconsistent across projects.
In design-build, this is particularly relevant. These projects often move faster than traditional design/bid/build contracts and depend heavily on early-stage coordination. Delays in adopting the right tools can ripple through a project’s lifecycle, leading to more rework, miscommunication and budget bloat.
Digital Tools and the Democratization of Data
Technology’s impact on design-build extends far beyond coordination. It also empowers broader participation across teams, from field staff to executive stakeholders. Ensuring everyone has access to the same up-to-date information increases trust, accountability and transparency.
Jason Howden, Chief Innovation Officer at Revizto, captured it best: “With transparency and collaboration, we get certainty, and with certainty, there is reduced risk.”
Such certainty is essential in a world where infrastructure projects are not just high value but often publicly funded. When those projects go over budget or off schedule, the stakes extend beyond financial to societal.
Looking Ahead: A Digital Mandate for Design-Build
The momentum behind design-build is growing, and so is the demand for technologies that make it work. As infrastructure investments surge across the U.S., the AEC industry must rise to meet the moment.
Technology isn’t a silver bullet, but in the hands of collaborative, forward-thinking teams, it’s a powerful catalyst for transformation. By embracing the right digital solutions, project teams can bridge the longstanding gaps between design and construction, unlocking faster timelines, fewer errors, lower risk and greater long-term value for clients and communities alike.
Revizto enables the people behind the world’s most important structures to do their best work. We connect architects, engineers, contractors and Owners in a unified 2D/3D environment, empowering them to deliver projects on time and on budget.
