Design/Build vs. Plan-Bid-Build: What’s Best for Your Project?

When planning a new commercial, industrial, or agricultural building in Utah, one of the most important decisions you’ll make early on is your project delivery method — and that usually comes down to two options:

• Design/Build

• Plan-Bid-Build (also called Design-Bid-Build)

Each approach has its own structure, timeline, and advantages. Understanding the differences will help you choose the best path forward for your goals, your budget, and your timeline.

What Is Plan-Bid-Build?

Plan-Bid-Build is the traditional method of construction delivery. Here’s how it works:

1. You hire an architect or engineer to design the project in full.

2. The completed plans are sent to multiple contractors for bidding.

3. You select the lowest (or best) bid, then hire a contractor to build it.

This approach separates design and construction into two phases with two separate teams.

Pros of Plan-Bid-Build:

• Clear design control up front

• Competitive bidding may drive costs down

• Works well for highly regulated or public projects

Cons:

• Longer timelines due to sequential steps

• Higher risk of cost overruns if design details are unclear or incomplete

• Potential for blame-shifting between designer and builder if issues arise

In fast-moving markets like Utah’s commercial sector, those delays and conflicts can impact both your schedule and your bottom line.

What Is Design/Build?

In a design/build approach, you hire one company — like A.D. Constructors — to handle both the design and construction under a single contract. This means your architect, engineers, and contractors work as a single, coordinated team from day one.

Pros of Design/Build:

• Faster timelines thanks to overlapping design and construction phases

• Streamlined communication with one point of contact

• Better cost control as the builder helps value-engineer the project from the start

• Fewer surprises due to better coordination and early contractor involvement

Cons:

• Less competitive bidding (since the builder is selected early)

• May offer less design “independence” if aesthetics are your top priority

For most private developers, though, the time and money saved with design/build outweigh the need for multiple bids or architectural autonomy.

Which One’s Right for Your Utah Project?

Here are a few questions to help guide your decision:

• Is speed a priority?
  Design/build allows faster start-to-finish timelines — especially helpful when working around seasonal constraints or aggressive go-to-market schedules.

• Do you need help managing costs early?
  With design/build, contractors help select materials and systems that stay within budget — before construction begins.

• Are you juggling multiple stakeholders?
  A single design/build team simplifies communication and accountability.

• Is your project complex or highly customized?
  Plan-bid-build may be better if you need a unique design and want competitive pricing for execution.

At A.D. Constructors, we specialize in design/build for commercial, industrial, and agricultural buildings throughout Utah. But we’ve worked with both models — and we can help you choose the right delivery method for your specific goals.

Conclusion: Choose the Right Path — Not Just the Familiar One

Plan-bid-build might be the “traditional” way to build, but design/build is often faster, more efficient, and more aligned with how private developers work today. By combining design and construction into one streamlined team, you reduce friction, speed up your timeline, and keep costs predictable.

If you’re exploring a new build, we’d love to talk.

Let’s figure out the best delivery method for your project — and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

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