The first question you may be asking having seen the title of this article is what is a design and build company?
According to Wikipedia “Design–build (or design/build, and abbreviated D–B or D/B accordingly) is a project delivery system (a system used by an agency or owner for organizing and financing design, construction, operations, and maintenance services for a structure or facility by entering into legal agreements with one or more entities or parties) used in the construction industry. It is a method to deliver a project in which the design and construction services are contracted by a single entity known as the design–builder or design–build contractor. It can be subdivided into architect-led design–build (ALDB, sometimes known as designer-led design–build) and contractor-led design–build.”
Design and Build In One Company
Usually when it comes to the design and build aspects of an office refurbishment project these two elements have been treated as separate contracts and are very often taken care of by different contractors. Instead design and build companies manage both the design and build / installation of an office fit out in a single contract. By having one company responsible for the whole project, who takes care of the design and build elements, your office refurbishment will be more streamlined and your project will be more efficiently and effectively managed.
There are many advantages to using a design and build company. Below we list some of the reasons why it’s better to use a design and build company for your next office refurbishment.
These include:
Responsibility Is Clear
When you use a design and build company rather than separate companies for the design and build elements only one company is responsible and accountable for the work being carried out. The overall risk is therefore reduced as the ownership of any refurbishment work carried out is clear.
Communication Is Clear
With a design and build company you have one point of communication. Communication is intrinsically better within a design and build company because everyone is within the same company, be it the project manager, designer, carpenter, partitioner etc. Everyone works as one team and they work together on a regular basis so are used to communicating project needs. They understand the company ethos and as a result are better placed to communicate more efficiently with the client. If communication issues do arise they are far more likely to be handled quickly and efficiently. Furthermore as a client you don’t have to manage communication or try to resolve or mediate issues between different companies.
One Experienced Company
A design and build company can draw on all the relevant skill elements that it requires to complete your office refurbishment. These include: the project estimator, site assessor, designer to produce the office design and layout for the design element; project manager, carpenters, partitioners, electricians, plumbers etc. who carry out the build element through to the person responsible for post design and build follow-up care.
More Efficient Working Practice
Design and build companies, especially companies who have years of experience, will have been able to streamline their processes and subsequently the design and build elements of an office refurbishment will be efficient and timely. Whereas if you are using a number of different companies to fulfil your office refurbishment you may find that they each have completely different working practices and processes and which may not “gel” with the other companies involved in the project which can lead to confusion, issues and downtime or project delays.
Faster Design and Build Completion
Clearly having a design and build company deal with all of the required office refurbishment elements (mentioned above) enables your office fit-out to be as efficient and effective as possible. Where the designers and installers work together there is better communication and a clearer understanding of project needs. Potential issues can be discussed and solutions found before any real issues occur thereby reducing the number of setbacks.
By choosing a design and build company that provides all the required skills required to deliver your office refurbishment from start to finish cuts out any delays you may have if you have to wait for companies to coordinate the work required. The efficiency of a design and build company therefore enables shorter project timelines and faster design and build completion.
Cost Efficiency
With project efficiency, comes cost efficiency. The design and build approach is more cost effective due to some of the reasons given above.
Having one company and one team responsible for a project means there is more efficient planning and execution. The same company is responsible for pricing all aspects of the project and this allows for an overview of overall costs. By having a streamlined approach you cut cost inefficiencies enabling costs to be kept under control.
Quality Control
With a design and build company quality control is under the remit of just one company. Having one company responsible for a project also means there is the same quality control will be applied from start to finish. Since everyone involved in the project works together then design, materials and build considerations can be made to ensure consistency and the focus remains on delivering the best result to the project and the client.
Throughout the process the design and build company will have a complete overview and can therefore ensure that any issues are quickly addressed and do not compromise quality.
JBH Refurbishments Your Design and Build Company
When choosing the right design and build company it’s important to ensure you choose a reputable office refurbishment company with a proven track record of years of experience.
JBH Refurbishments are a professional design and build company and understand how to get the best out of any office space. No matter the size of the project you’ll want an office refurbishment team who understand how to deliver your project on time, on budget and with quality in mind. From your site visit to assess your needs, to establishing your priorities and putting together a project plan, to developing an office design and layout that meets your needs to delivering your project JBH Refurbishments will provide piece of mind.
You can contact us via our contact form or calling us on 0333 207 0339.
