In 2018, Tipton County, a community in north central Indiana, broke ground on one of the most significant building projects since 1895. Like many communities around the nation, the county needed to replace an aging and overcrowded jail that no longer met its needs. After an unsuccessful attempt using the traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) project delivery method, Tipton chose to use Progressive Design-Build (PDB) to support their objectives and budget.
PDB refers to the way a construction project design is developed by the owner and the design-builder in a step-by-step process. According to the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), PDB allows the design and construction team to collaborate during the earliest stages of the project development. This enables the greatest amount of engagement between the three key players in a construction contract: the owner, designer, and contractor. Here are five reasons why owners should consider PDB for their projects.