The History of Turnkey Construction: What is Single-Source Responsibility?
Design-build is a method of project delivery in which one entity – the design-build team – works under a single contract with the project owner to provide design and construction services. Design-build is also known as single-source responsibility, or turnkey construction. The concept of design-build isn’t new; before there were design-build firms there was the Master Builder, or the capomastro, an individual who was responsible for the architecture, engineering and construction of a given project. Master builders and the design-build approach have been used for thousands of years, throughout the world. Here are three iconic design-build projects from history.
Parthenon
The Parthenon in Athens was designed by Greek architects Ictinus and Callicrates and built under the supervision of the two architects as well as Phidias, a Greek sculptor. Construction began in 447 BCE and the building was complete in 432 BCE. Because the design and construction processes were handled by the same team, that makes the Parthenon one of the oldest design-build projects in the world.
Florence Cathedral Dome
The dome of the Florence Cathedral, or Il Duomo, was designed, engineered, and built by Italian capomastro Filippo Brunelleschi in the 15th century. Construction of the cathedral began in 1296, but had slowed significantly by 1418, when a contest was organized to find someone to complete the dome. A talented architect, sculptor, and engineer, Brunelleschi designed a device to assist in building the dome over the cathedral’s eight-sided vault, and won the competition. Brunelleschi was the planner and construction supervisor for this iconic design-build project from 1420 until his death in 1446.
In 2004, the Design-Build Institute of America started awarding the Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award to design-build professionals who “unite innovation and creativity in design with the highest level of construction quality.”
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was a joint venture between entrepreneur Gustave Eiffel, engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, and architect Stephen Sauvestre. The design was selected from 107 projects in preparation for the World’s Fair of 1889. Construction of the 1,083-foot structure began on January 26th, 1887, and was completed on March 31st, 1889, in record time.
Final Thoughts
From classic Greek architecture to modern national monuments, the single-source process has been used to produce iconic design-build structures across the globe. Even huge projects in the United States such as the White House and the Pentagon used the design-build method. Get started on your design-build project today!
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