Every year, the DBIA Project/Team Awards recognize the teams that demonstrate Design-Build Done Right®, but if you’ve ever looked at the application and wondered what the jury is actually looking for, you’re not alone.
In the latest episode of The Design-Build Delivers Podcast, brought to you by ARKANCE, an Autodesk Platinum Partner, host Erin Looney chats with four members of the DBIA Awards jury to pull back the curtain on how submissions are evaluated and what makes a project rise to the top.
Joining the conversation are Praful Kulkarni, Barbara Jackson, Brian Skripac and Rich Formella, all longtime contributors to the awards program who bring perspectives on everything from collaboration and leadership to procurement strategy, risk management and technology integration.
One theme runs through the entire discussion: strong submissions clearly show how a team applied design-build best practices to deliver results. Jurors want to see the decision making, the challenges and the collaboration that led to the final outcome, not just the finished project.
That means documenting the real story of the project, demonstrating measurable results and showing how the entire team — from Owner to designer to builder to trade partners — worked together to deliver value.
If your team is considering submitting a project, this episode offers practical insight directly from the people who evaluate the applications.
The deadline to submit a project for the 2026 DBIA Project/Team Awards is Monday, June 1, and there will be no extension this year.
Guests in this Episode
Rich Formella, PMP, CPPO, FAC-C III (Retired), FDBIA
Senior VP, Region Relations | DBIA
Rich is a procurement and contracting expert with decades of experience in public-sector acquisition and project delivery. A longtime member of the DBIA Project/Team Awards jury, he brings deep insight into procurement strategy, risk allocation and Owner readiness in design-build.
Barbara Jackson, Ph.D., FDBIA
Founder | Barbara Jackson, LLC
Barbara is a nationally recognized expert in design-build leadership, teaming and organizational performance. A former chair of the DBIA Project/Team Awards jury, she continues to be a leading voice on Design-Build Done Right® and collaborative project delivery.
Praful Kulkarni, Ph.D., FAIA, DBIA
Principal, Sr. Business Development Leader | CannonDesign
Praful is chair of the DBIA Project/Team Awards jury and a longtime advocate for design excellence in design-build. An architect and educator, he focuses on advancing best practices that help teams deliver world-class outcomes through collaboration and innovation.
Brian Skripac, CM-BIM, CDT, LEED AP, DBIA
Director of VDC | DBIA
Brian leads DBIA’s work in virtual design and construction (VDC), technology integration and digital project delivery. He helps teams apply BIM and emerging technologies to improve collaboration and achieve measurable project outcomes.
No Smoke and Mirrors Here: Inside the DBIA Awards Jury
Resources
Chapters
0:00 What the Jury Is Looking For
3:02 Defining Excellence in Design‑Build
8:15 What Makes a Submission Stand Out
15:41 Technology, VDC and Measurable Outcomes
17:41 Procurement, Risk and Owner Readiness
29:13 Common Submission Mistakes
38:40 What Defines a Project of the Year
The Design-Build Delivers Podcast is sponsored by ARKANCE, an Autodesk Platinum Partner. Learn more at arkance.us/dbia.
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