When developing a new office, manufacturing, laboratory or distribution facility, seamlessly integrating the design, engineering and construction processes quite often cuts weeks from a project schedule and reduces costs significantly.

Corporate users face challenges today that demand fast-track facilities’ development. These challenges include globalization pressures, shorter product life-cycles, schedule-driven contract awards, and tight financing parameters. In addition, timely marketing of a new product launch can mean the difference between success and failure. These factors, as well as the fact that facilities’ costs are a major portion of a company’s capital expenditures, necessitate new and innovative methods of construction delivery. The financial and scheduling economies achieved through design-build render it the preferred practice among many corporate users.

Also known as "turnkey" or "single-source responsibility," design-build is a system of contracting under which one entity performs architectural/engineering design and construction services. The adage “time is money” is never more applicable than in the construction of a new building. The design-build approach allows companies of all sizes to save valuable scheduling time and obtain guaranteed maximum project pricing at a very early stage to create substantial cost savings during the construction process, while incurring no surprises during the project. Throughout the process, the company owner interacts with a unified design and construction team working together on his or her behalf, while competitive pricing is obtained for all sub-trades. Materials and long-term lead items can be purchased early, sometimes before final construction documents are completed, which leads to expedient building occupancy and reduced risk to the corporation due to downtime or delayed ability to manufacture or distribute goods.

The design-build construction delivery method has also become increasingly preferred by corporations because it reduces the risk of performance error and increases quality because full responsibility is assumed by a single source. Traditionally, a company would bid out the facility design, award design, wait for plans to be completed, and then bid out the plans to various general contractors -- a process in which the true cost of the project is often unknown for months. The design-build delivery method streamlines the process and transfers the risk from the corporate user or developer to the design-build firm. Pricing is guaranteed up-front, schedules are firm, “value engineering” continues throughout the process, and no “finger-pointing” occurs between the architect, engineer, owner and contractor.

Dacon has constructed many design-build projects in New Hampshire including: a 247,000-square-foot (plus an 86,000-square-foot addition) headquarters and distribution facility for Delta Education in Nashua; a 30,000-square-foot office and manufacturing building for Igenics Corporation; a 60,000-square-foot office/assembly/manufacturing facility for Precitech Precision Corporation in Keene; and a 100,000-square-foot corporate headquarters for Brookstone, Inc. in Merrimack. Recent design-build renovation projects include: 80,000 square feet for Axsys IR Systems in Nashua and 60,000 square feet for Vibro-Meter/Meggit Avionics in Londonderry.

Most recently, Lindt & Sprungli (USA) performed a comprehensive analysis of construction approaches and companies to determine a method to design and construct the most cost-effective and highest quality buildings for their new 100,000-square-foot chocolate packaging addition, as well as a product conveyer bridge to a connected 200,000-square-foot temperature controlled distribution center. After a highly competitive process, Lindt chose Dacon Corporation to design, engineer and construct the buildings. In less than twelve months, Lindt moved into two fully permitted, designed and constructed buildings delivered with a “turnkey” approach. These smartly designed buildings, along with Lindt & Sprungli’s U.S. corporate headquarters, are located in a campus setting in Stratham. This project showcased the benefits of the design-build construction delivery method, including a fast-track schedule and maximum cost savings.

Whether utilized for a small clean room fit-up, 50,000-square-foot building renovation, or brand new office, manufacturing, laboratory or distribution facility, in the vast majority of cased the design-build approach saves substantial time and money. Perhaps most importantly, this streamlined process eliminates potential risk for the company owner.

Brian Gallagher is the Business Development Manager for Dacon Corporation with offices in Natick, MA and Stratham, NH.

About Dacon Corporation
For more than 20 years, Dacon Corporation — a fully integrated design and construction management firm that provides single-source solutions to clients’ most challenging facility requirements – has provided exceptional design, engineering and construction services for hundreds of office, medical/life science, manufacturing and warehouse/distribution facilities.

Dacon takes great pride in delivering end-results — on time and on budget -- that meet each client’s specifications down to the smallest detail. Dacon’s clients include nationally based Fortune 500 companies, international European-based companies, local developers and private corporations.