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Getting It Right the First Time!

2/1/2002

Throughout my career in the concrete industry, I have been exposed to many innovative ideas that ultimately strive to produce better-constructed facilities. The subject of Design-Build construction came up recently in a conversation with a long-time associate and friend, Jum Horst. Jum has been involved in concrete construction for years and shared with me his thoughts on the opportunities available to improve concrete construction through the Design-Build process. I would like to share some of his thinking with you:

One of the main goals of any project should be: "Get it right the first time." To provide an owner with a quality constructed facility at a reasonable cost, all parties involved in the construction process—architect, engineer, and contractor—need to collaborate. This is the foundation of Design-Build construction. Most of the value engineering should happen before the designer puts pencil to paper. With contractor input, project engineering can proceed with confidence that the design will reflect reasonable and current state-of-the-art practice, as well as practical details for concrete mixes, form specification, etc.

A key to good project execution is hiring top design teams and paying them what is required for a quality set of documents. Value engineering continually supports the concept that a trusted contractor should be involved in the design process before starting the design documents, but this has not been a part of most traditional Design-Build efforts. The contractor is the user of the design documents. The owner is the user of the facility produced from those documents. A trusted contractor, therefore, should have input concerning the quality of documents needed to provide the owner with the greatest value.

It would then be logical to assume that the concrete contractor could provide highly beneficial information during the entire design process. The concrete contractor can make valuable contributions on aspects of constructibility. The contractor can also bring practical input to the table, becoming a part of the solution up front to avoid problems later.

By working collaboratively from the initial design through to completion, we can achieve the best possible result for the owner: a quality concrete facility! This may seem easy to accomplish on paper, but it requires several basic elements from all parties involved: respect, trust, hard work, a willingness to listen, and a willingness to change.

To improve the Design-Build process, I believe it is necessary for us to rethink what is required for successful construction. I would encourage all students interested in concrete construction as a career to get hands-on experience. A good engineer has to understand the construction process. The best way to do this is by "living and breathing" the construction experience in the field. It would also be good for the construction student to spend time in a design office to gain an understanding of the many problems confronting the architect and structural engineer.

For those of us who have been around concrete and Design-Build for many years, we need to realize our obligation to help the new generation understand how to utilize what we have all learned to continue to make our industry better. Often, this will require us to put our egos and traditional ways aside and consider different ideas for improving construction, including the design phase. With the goal of “get it right the first time,” we can make significant strides in design and construction.

As my presidency comes to a close, I must express appreciation to the many individuals I see giving back to this great Institute and to the concrete construction community as a whole. I continue to be excited about the programs and innovations being developed that will provide for a long-lasting future for our industry and the generations to come. ACI has embraced many of these new concepts and has put initiatives and committees in place to address these needs. Two new programs include:

• The Design-Build Committee, chaired by a long-time friend of mine, Ken Hover. I feel this is definitely a step in the right direction toward continuing to bring architects, engineers, and contractors together; and
• The ACI Student Fellowship Program, in which I believe wholeheartedly. I see this as a successful and practical way of attracting students to the construction industry and giving them a real opportunity to experience all it has to offer.

I look forward to the changes within our industry that will ultimately lead to better-constructed facilities. I hope to encourage everyone in the construction community to embrace these innovations!

Daniel L. Baker,
President,
American Concrete Institute

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