Blog
Early Certainty: How Collaborative Projects Avoid Cost Surprises
Cost certainty in projects comes from a handful of conversations that happen early, or fail to happen at all, and the difference shows up months later when two sides realize they were never aligned when it came to the cost and pricing.
Why Early Collaboration Delivers Better Outcomes than Hard Bid
For decades, hard bid, often delivered through design‑bid‑build, has been the default for public water and wastewater projects—and for good reasons. It’s familiar. It’s defensible. It creates a clean paper trail that satisfies procurement requirements.
The Integration Manager in Successful Water and Wastewater Design-Build Delivery
As water and wastewater infrastructure projects become more schedule driven, owners are increasingly turning to collaborative delivery methods to better align design, construction, and operations.
Say Yes to Growth as a WCDA New Professional
I attended my first WCDA event expecting to learn about collaborative delivery and better understand where I fit into the ecosystem. The room was full of smiling faces, great energy, and, as I quickly discovered, an incredible depth of experience.
Commissioning Starts in Design
Most owners assume start-up risk peaks near the end of construction. After all, startup is when systems are energized, equipment is tested, operators take control, and facilities begin producing water or treating wastewater. But startup rarely creates problems…
Three Ways to Get More Value from Linear Progressive Design-Build
PDB is changing how water and wastewater projects are delivered and how linear projects move from concept to construction. Done well, it brings key stakeholders together early to refine scope, manage risk, and align expectations before final pricing and execution.
How Should Digital Operations Be Considered in Collaborative Delivery?
In water and wastewater projects, collaborative delivery has improved how teams align around design, risk, and construction. But as systems become more connected and data driven, another question is emerging: When should digital operations enter the conversation?
Is Life Cycle Cost a Design Criterion or Just a Good Intention?
Whether you’re managing a federal water treatment facility, a municipal wastewater system, or an industrial process plant, the question is the same: Is it smarter to put the Cadillac in the ground and forget about it for 50 years, or buy the less expensive model and budget…
Why CMAR Delivers More Value for Owners Than Its Up-front Cost Suggests
When owners consider CMAR delivery, one concern tends to come up early: Doesn’t CMAR cost more? It is a fair question. The real question is whether that early investment helps owners avoid larger costs, delays, and risk later. In my experience, the answer is yes.
Fixed-Price Design-Build and Smart BIM: A Playbook for Water Owners
Fixed-price design-build (FPDB) can deliver the price certainty that boards and city councils expect and the collaboration that complex water programs require, especially if the commercial model is paired with smart building information modeling (BIM) and disciplined,...