Progressive Design-Build: Practice, Perception and Potential

Executive Summary – Progressive Design-Build: Practice, Perception, and Potential

Progressive Design-Build (PDB) has emerged as a collaborative project delivery method that emphasizes transparency, early engagement, and balanced risk allocation between owners and design-build teams. This 2025 research by the ACEC Research Institute, conducted in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder, the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), and supported by the Charles Pankow Foundation, examines how PDB is practiced, perceived, and positioned for broader adoption across the U.S. design and construction industry. Drawing on national survey data and industry insights, the study assesses PDB’s performance relative to other delivery methods and identifies opportunities and barriers to its continued growth.

Why This Research Matters

• Nearly half of the U.S. design and construction market uses Design-Build delivery, yet traditional DB approaches often face challenges related to risk allocation, insurance, and disputes.
• Progressive Design-Build addresses these challenges by fostering early and sustained collaboration before final pricing and risk profiles are established.
• As owners seek greater flexibility, transparency, and confidence in project outcomes, understanding how PDB performs in practice is critical to modernizing procurement and delivery strategies.

Key Findings

• 76% of survey respondents reported participating in PDB projects, with 88% noting an increase in the number of PDB projects and 81% reporting growth in overall construction value over the past five years.
• 79% of industry stakeholders reported being satisfied or very satisfied with PDB, reflecting strong alignment between owner expectations, team collaboration, and project outcomes.
• Among five common project delivery methods, PDB received the highest rating for effective risk allocation, with an average score of 4.2 out of 5, outperforming CMAR, IPD, Best-Value Design-Build, and Low-Bid Design-Build.
• Early contractor involvement, iterative planning, and transparent cost development were consistently identified as drivers of trust, reduced disputes, and better decision-making.
• Despite positive performance, barriers remain, including regulatory constraints, owner unfamiliarity, insurance availability challenges, and limited internal capacity among some firms.

Implications for Practice

The findings demonstrate that PDB’s structured collaboration and phased validation process enable teams to identify and manage risk earlier, resulting in stronger project clarity and fewer downstream conflicts. However, broader adoption will depend on regulatory flexibility, owner education, and insurance frameworks that better align with PDB’s collaborative structure

Methodology

The research is based on a national survey of 581 industry professionals from 439 organizations across six sectors—aviation, industrial, private buildings, public buildings, transportation, and water/wastewater—supplemented by literature review and qualitative analysis. Data collection and analysis were completed in 2024–2025.

Practical Applications

This research enables public and private owners to evaluate Progressive Design-Build as a delivery method that improves transparency, collaboration, and risk management. Engineering firms and design-builders can apply these findings to strengthen internal strategies, enhance client engagement, and manage liability more effectively. Policymakers and industry leaders should consider regulatory updates, guidance, and education that support PDB’s phased, qualifications-based approach to project delivery.