Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a form of contracting for engineering, architectural and construction services with “one entity.” In theory, it sounds great. In practice, it has been extraordinarily complicated for you, the owner. Why go with IPD when the Enhanced Design-Build Method is available?
Independent Project Delivery Hope and Hype
The American Institute of Architects describes it this way: “Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a project delivery approach that integrates people, systems, business structures and practices into a process that collaboratively harnesses the talents and insights of all participants to optimize project results, increase value to the owner, reduce waste, and maximize efficiency through all phases of design, fabrication, and construction.
“IPD principles can be applied to a variety of contractual arrangements and IPD teams can include members well beyond the basic triad of owner, architect, and contractor. In all cases, integrated projects are uniquely distinguished by highly effective collaboration among the owner, the prime designer, and the prime constructor, commencing at early design and continuing through to project handover.”
IPD aspires and presents itself as a better solution for the owner when, in practice, it is the same old set of owner problems dressed up as a new term. Reading between the lines reveals that IPD is a “collaboration” among a “triad of owner, architect, and contractor,” each being individual business entities. In practice, the owner is contracting with competing interests and is highly susceptible to the costly ineffective “blame game.”
That’s been the way that McCree has served customers for years. That’s the Enhanced Design-Build method which is nothing new to McCree.
Since the 1950s, architects have continuously been a principal at McCree. So when an architect approaches us early in a project to be a part of an Integrated Project Delivery contract, we’re there and then some. We so appreciate the collaboration because we’re not just a contractor—we’re peers mutually aligned to realize a customer’s dream.
