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Federal Design-Build Symposium

Event Program

Welcome to the 2023 Federal Design-Build Symposium

As use of design-build continues to grow, with market analysis projecting design-build to approach nearly 50% by 2026, so does our Federal Design-Build Symposium. Further, with the passage of the historic infrastructure funding legislation and continued post-pandemic recovery efforts, bringing together key players from federal agencies and the design and construction industry with the mutual goal of optimizing federal project outcomes is more important than ever.

DBIA’s symposium offers federal teams the innovative tools, design-build best practices, and federal policy insights needed to build high-performance teams delivering better projects — on-time and on-budget. Split into two tracks — Track 1: The Right Tools and Techniques for Success and Track 2: Design-Build Done Right® in Action — these sessions are designed to help federal design-build teams deliver on the promise of economic progress and recovery.

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Tuesday, August 22

12:30 pm – 1:45 pm

Opening Keynote: Hot Button Issues That Derail a Project (Where Do We Go Wrong?)

Details

Moderator:
Jim Whitaker, FAIA, NCARB, FDBIA — HKS, Inc.

Presenters:
Jennifer Macks, PE, LEED AP, DBIA — Gilbane
Virginia A. McAllister, RA, LEED AP, NCIDQ, DBIA — Iron Horse Architects, Inc.
Angela Miklich, LEED AP BD+C — General Services Administration
Laura Wake-Ramos, AIA, NCARB, EDAC, DBIA — Mortenson

Design-build team members must be willing to exercise mindfulness and have difficult conversations to reveal vulnerabilities to foster healthy, strong team relationships. This lively, interactive “marriage counseling” session will deep dive into challenging topics that, if left unaddressed, can adversely impact team performance, synergy and outcomes. The most successful design-build teams understand that design-build is more than a single point of responsibility contract, but also a mental shift that requires building strong relationships based on trust, open and honest communication, and comprehensive collaboration from stakeholders to fabricators. But this is easier said than done. Relationships can be hard, and design-build relationships are no exception! As with any relationship, there may be times when “unspoken” expectations are not met; or times when you don’t feel valued, understood or heard. Topics to be addressed include appropriate risk allocation, limitation of liability, stipends, contingency, design intent and more.

Speaker Bios

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm

Beverage Break

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Owners’ Forum

Details

Moderator:
Laura Stagner, FAIA, PMP, DBIA — General Services Administration (Retired)

Praised by Owners as a highly valuable education and networking experience, the Owners’ Only Forum allows open, honest discussion and provides professionals the opportunity to share views, answer questions and find solutions to project delivery challenges. Industry professionals, including consultants, are not permitted in this session.

Practitioners’ Forum

Details

Moderator:
Thom Kurmel, DDES, AIA, FHFI, DBIA — TDK Consulting, LLC

This forum provides an opportunity for the design-build practitioners to have a robust conversation about the business aspects of design-build and establishing an effective and efficient single point of responsibility team. Not only will key industry trends and issues be discussed, but practitioners will have the opportunity to provide input to help DBIA lead the way to solve some of the most prevalent challenges in today’s market. This is a practitioners-only session.

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Beverage Break

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm

Concurrent Education Track Sessions

Track 1
The Right Tools and Techniques for Success

Track 2
Design-Build Done Right® in Action

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm

The Owner’s Role in Design-Build Done Right®

Details

Presenters:
Craig H. Unger, FDBIA — Unger Security Solutions LLC
James Ropelewski, JD, DBIA — Design-Build Institute of America

As design-build approaches nearly half of all construction spending, the best design-build teams are as selective in choosing the Owners they work with as Owners are in selecting their design-builder. So, what makes for an Owner of choice? This session will dive into the key characteristics of Owners who position themselves to reap the full benefits of Design-Build Done Right® through a comprehensive understanding of their role in both project and team success.

VA Major Construction Program Design-Build Planning, Acquisition and Execution Strategy Implementation

Details

Presenters:
Ross A. Davidson, Assoc. AIA, FHFI, DBIA — Department of Veterans Affairs
Zeb Fox, CDBA, FAC-C III — Department of Veterans Affairs
Francine Gomes, PE — Department of Veterans Affairs

This session will discuss the planning, acquisition and execution functions in the implementation of design-build strategy for VA projects; provide an update on the VA’s progress of acquisition strategy for its upcoming multiple award contract vehicle and approximate schedule for solicitation and award; overview the VA’s investment in Design-Build Done Right® training; and discuss how the VA is leveraging design-build across the VA enterprise and with non-departmental federal entity partners.

4:15 pm – 4:30 pm

Beverage Break

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

General Session: Using Data to Tell the Story: A Look at How Current Data Informs the Path Ahead

Details

Presenters:
Emily Beardall — FMI Corporation
Kevin J. McMahon — ACEC Research Institute
Keith R. Molenaar, Ph.D., FDBIA — University of Colorado at Boulder

Research. Studies. Trends. From statistics and focus groups to case studies and polls and more, the world has an insatiable appetite for data. But what does it all mean? And how do we leverage it all to tell the story? In this session, we’ll weave together key industry data from two recent studies: FMI’s Market Trends Mid-Cycle Update Study and the ACEC Research Institute’s Design-Build Study — the first study to focus exclusively on the engineer’s perspective of design-build — to inform us of trends, challenges and opportunities in our industry. With design-build on track to comprise 47% of construction spending by 2026, the importance of leveraging current data to inform the course ahead cannot be overstated. Join us as industry experts present key highlights from both studies, helping us connect the dots and leaving attendees informed and prepared for the future of design-build. Sponsored by: Kahua

Speaker Bios

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Networking Reception

Sponsored by: Michael Baker International, Nicholson, Pullman

Wednesday, August 23

7:30 am – 8:00 am

Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by: Equipment Corporation of America (ECA)

8:00 am – 9:15 am

General Session: Federal Design-Build Best Practices – Status and Highlights

Details

Moderator:
Robert “Skip” Vaughn, SES, National Institute of Standards & Technology

Presenters:
James Ropelewski, JD, DBIA — Design-Build Institute of America
Laura Stagner, FAIA, PMP, DBIA — U.S. General Services Administration (Retired)
David Triplett — FBI

As new ideas and methods are embraced, regulations change and technology advances, design-build evolves. Therefore, Design-Build Best Practices evolve, too. This session will examine the status and highlights of the updated Federal Design-Build Best Practices. This project was led by a team of design-build experts informed by their years of federal design-build experience with input from a wide range of stakeholders. While these Best Practices are based on the updated Universal Best Practices released earlier this year, they are focused on the federal market and the inherent particularities and requirements.

Speaker Bios

9:15 am – 9:30 am

Beverage Break

9:30 am – 12:00 pm

Concurrent Education Track Sessions

Track 1
The Right Tools and Techniques for Success

Track 2
Design-Build Done Right® in Action

9:30 am – 10:30 am

Selecting and Using an Owner Advisor in Design-Build

Details

Presenters:
Baabak Ashuri, Ph.D., DBIA — Georgia Institute of Technology
Joseph M. Butler, PE, MBA — ButlerMatrix, LLC
Molly A. Jones, LEED AP, AIA, GGP, DBIA — Jones Design Studio, PLLC
Praful Kulkarni, AIA, DBIA — CannonDesign

Why should a federal agency use an Owner Advisor for design-build projects? What role do they play and why does it matter to you? This session will explore the critical role an Owner Advisor plays on design-build projects. We’ll explore what an Owner Advisor is, the value they bring to design-build projects and how an Owner Advisor interacts with the design-build team. If you are working on Design-Build projects, this session is for you!

Managing Risk and Innovation on a Federal Design-Build Historic Renovation

Details

Presenters:
Jah-Ras Hodge, RA — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Gayle Kirchmar, AIA, LEED AP — KCCT
Josh Taylor, LEED AP — Federal Contracting
Laura Wake-Ramos, AIA, NCARB, EDAC, DBIA — Mortenson

Navigating a federal design-build historic renovation requires an effective strategy to manage the intrinsic challenges, ranging from the reliability of as-builts, quality design documents and uncovering unforeseen conditions. Key considerations for a project of this complexity include comprehensive discovery during the design phase, proactive design and contractor leadership in the design approval process, and a solutions-oriented approach by all stakeholders encouraged through a design-build culture. The Inter-American Defense College at Fort McNair in Washington, DC, will be used as a case study.

10:30 am – 10:45 am

Beverage Break

10:45 am – 12:00 pm

High Altitude Research Lab – Design Build Excellence at 14,115 Feet!

Details

Presenters:
Douglas Foster, PE — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District
Joseph Opyd, CCM, DBIA — G.E. Johnson Construction Company

Following partnering and Design-Build Done Right® best practices as a roadmap for success turned out to be an essential piece to success for an amazing team while working on an extremely challenging federal Corps of Engineers Design-Build project at 14,115 feet. The quickly changing climate, severe logistical challenges and numerous stakeholders involved made the day-to-day challenges seem like facing a mountain, while working on one! Following through with partnering consistently throughout the project made the Design-Build Done Right® best practices easy to implement and use as a guide for success to the completion and turn over the contract.

FBI’s Success in Design-Build Done Right®

Details

Presenters:
David Triplett — FBI
Barbara Wagner, LEEP AP, DBIA — Clark Construction Group, LLC
Jim Whitaker, FAIA, FDBIA — HKS, Inc.

The FBI is designing and building its new campus, HQ2 at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, to provide additional FBI mission capability, attract and retain talent, and provide state-of-the art training. Over the next 10 years, the FBI will create 5,000+ jobs in Huntsville, providing an appealing campus on a secure location, expanding the FBI’s missions already at the Arsenal. To meet its ambitious goals in completing the campus, the FBI chose design-build project delivery. The FBI followed DBIA’s Design-Build Done Right® for federal projects and retained an external expert to educate its key leadership, procurement and project delivery teammates. Hear about how to successfully deploy design-build project delivery for an extensive, federally-funded building campaign and individual projects.

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Networking Lunch

Sponsored by: Whiting-Turner

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

General Session: No One is to Blame: Successful Collaboration in an Uncertain Market

Details

Moderator:
Ross A. Davidson, Assoc. AIA, FHFI, DBIA — Department of Veterans Affairs

Presenters:
Reggie Jones, DBIA — Fox Rothschild LLP
Tracy Marcinowski — General Services Administration
Stacy Percoski — The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

With soaring construction costs and unreliable supply chain challenges, what are the methods for design-build teams to collaborate and succeed? There is little consistency across the federal agencies regarding the tools at hand for these problems, including Economic Price Adjustments. Looking at the issues with a wide lens, this session will delve into what tools agencies do have, how they can be used, and how and where risks are best placed.

Speaker Bios

2:15 pm – 2:30 pm

Beverage Break

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Concurrent Education Track Sessions

Track 1
The Right Tools and Techniques for Success

Track 2
Design-Build Done Right® in Action

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Developing Design-Builders: Supporting Small and Disadvantaged Businesses

Details

Presenters:
Cory Anderson — General Services Administration
Rich Benton, PE, F-ASCE, FDBIA — SR Benton & Associates
Lisa Cooley, LEED AP — Gordian
Kelvin King — Osprey Management

Design-build brings an array of advantages for the federal government that demand increased utilization. But fulfilling socio-economic contracting mandates within the design-build methodology can be challenging. Emergent businesses may not have developed the skillsets required for successful design-build execution. A panel of experts will discuss how the right training and IDIQ contract vehicles can nurture design-build capabilities within these businesses, help achieve DEI goals within the federal design-build community, and ensure the successful development of the design-build supplier base across a spectrum of execution needs.

Build Beautifully: How Design-Build Can Create a More Sustainable Future

Details

Presenter:
Molly A. Jones, LEED AP, AIA, GGP, DBIA — Jones Design Studio, PLLC

As the world continues to struggle with the increasing challenges of climate change, it has become clear that we need to take a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to mitigate climate change impacts. As Owners, Owner-Advisors, design-builders, architects and trade partners, we are uniquely positioned to elevate this conversation. This session will explore the intersection of project delivery methods and sustainable outcomes. Specifically, how design-build can support sustainability and energy efficiency through innovation and creativity; and challenge all of us to Build Beautifully.

3:30 pm – 3:45 pm

Beverage Break

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm

General Session: Design-Build Done Right® in Action – An Award-Winning Project/Team

Details

Moderator:
Stella S. Fiotes, AIA, DBIA — U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs (Retired)

Presenters:
Nicholas J. Bibelhauser III, PE — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Amy Schaap, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, FHFI, DBIA – Arcadis
Darl Flake — Mortenson
Dave Peterson, DBIA — Mortenson

The Ireland Army Health Clinic and the team behind it represent design-build at its best. This session will explore what went into this award-winning project, how the team met and exceeded their goals, what challenges they encountered, and how adhering to design-build best practices paved the way to success. Attendees will also learn what particularly impressed the awards jury about the project.

Speaker Bios