Expert Insight
The Design Engineer’s Role
in Alternative Delivery
Published by the National Academy of Construction.
Co-authored by David Goodyear +
McLaren Engineering Group
After the advent of professional engineering licensing in 1907 and the formation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1914, project delivery in transportation evolved from semi-private entrepreneurial development to agency-sponsored design bid-build (DBB) as a baseline.
Alternative delivery (AD) includes a variation from DBB such as design-build (DB), construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), alliance (a New Zealand framework), design assist (an American Institute of Architects commercial organization), and similar options promoted as more collaborative alternatives to the discrete staging and commercial segregation of DBB.
This executive insight reflects the experience and advice from two leading design engineers who have delivered a variety of conventional and alternative delivery projects in the U.S. market over the course of four decades.
Key
Points
- Design engineers must recognize they have the same professional responsibility under alternative delivery (AD) projects as they do under more traditional delivery methods.
- Selection of partners is critical for successful execution of AD projects.
- Collaboration and transparency are key to successful AD teaming.
- Open communication is a must for successful AD project execution.
- Accountability is most important when evaluating innovations related to design. A lesson learned is it is a mistake to assume the originator of the innovation will be accountable for the outcome.
Background
After the advent of professional engineering licensing in 1907 and the formation of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1914, project delivery in transportation evolved from semi-private entrepreneurial development to agency-sponsored designbid-build (DBB) as a baseline. Alternative delivery (AD) is defined as any one of the variations from DBB, including design-build (DB), construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), alliance (a New Zealand framework), design assist (an American Institute of Architects commercial organization), and similar options promoted as more collaborative alternatives to the discrete staging and commercial segregation of DBB.
The statutory obligations of professional design engineers have not changed for alternative delivery. The commercial position of design engineers, however, may change considerably, depending on the project organization for AD methods. This Executive Insight reflects the experience and advice from two design engineers who have delivered a variety of conventional and alternative delivery projects in the U.S. market over the course of four decades.
About
the Authors
David Goodyear was elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2020. He is a consulting structural engineer with over 45 years of experience in bridge and heavy foundation design and construction engineering for long span bridges. He is the engineer of record for the Mike O’CallaghanPat Tillman Memorial Bridge at Hoover Dam. Goodyear has vast experience in design and engineering of complex bridge structures, many innovative and groundbreaking with a high degree of aesthetic quality.
Malcolm McLaren was elected to the National Academy of Construction in 2019. He is the Founder / Executive Chairman of the Board of McLaren Engineering Group with experience in design of high-rise buildings and bridges as well as underwater inspection of piers and marine structures. A Professional Engineer in 42 states, he has served on the civil engineering advisory boards of Cornell University and Rutgers University. McLaren is known for conceptualizing and executing revolutionary designs for projects worldwide and pioneered the discipline of professional engineer-diver.