Progressive design-build (PDB) is becoming a more common way to deliver large infrastructure projects in Canada. But as more projects move from planning into construction, there’s a bigger question to answer: Is PDB working as intended? We asked 23 senior practitioners, including owners, advisors, and delivery partners, what they’re seeing on projects across Canada. Their experience shows where PDB is working well and where there’s still room to improve.
One benefit stands out: PDB helps teams work together earlier. Eighty-seven percent of respondents pointed to early collaboration between owners and contractors as a key benefit. They also see stronger risk management and more mature designs and scopes. But cost tells a different story. Only 26 percent identified better control over cost overruns as a key benefit. PDB is helping teams collaborate, but collaboration alone doesn’t create cost certainty.
So, is progressive design-build working in Canada? Yes, but there’s more work to do. PDB shows clear strengths in collaboration and risk management. The picture is less clear for cost and schedule. This white paper looks beyond the promise of PDB to explore what the people delivering these projects are learning. Most importantly, it identifies practical steps that can help owners and project teams get more value from the model and make better decisions about when to use it.
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