6 Common Construction Project Delivery Methods for Architects

Every great project starts with a clear path forward. Without it, even the best ideas can lose their way.

The same applies to construction projects. You need a proper construction project delivery method to take your project from concept to completion.

There are different construction project delivery methods, each following a distinct process. Choosing the right one is critical as it can impact the quality and success of your project.

But how do you choose the right one? Let’s break down the most common construction delivery methods, their strengths, and the challenges you must watch out for.

⏰ 60-Second Summary

🚧 There are multiple ways to manage a construction project, each with its own advantages and disadvantages

🚧 Some methods like Design-Bid-Build are traditional and give the owner a lot of control but also more responsibility

🚧 Others, like Design-Build, are more collaborative and streamline the process

🚧 Choosing the best method depends on the specific project, the owner’s preferences, and factors like cost, timeline, construction phase, and risk tolerance

🚧 Regardless of the method, it’s critical to centralize the process using construction management software and document processes thoroughly for project success

6 Common Construction Project Delivery Methods

There isn’t one right approach to completing a construction project. Simply put, each method varies significantly in terms of budget, timeline, process, and collaboration.

Let’s look at the six common project delivery methods with their pros and cons:

1. Design-Bid-Build (DBB)

The Design-Bid-Build method follows a simple approach. Each construction project phase—Design, Bid, Build—stands independently and is completed step-by-step without overlapping.

A traditional project delivery method, DBB is more prevalent among owners as it offers better control over the construction process and incurs lower project costs.

Here’s how it works:

• Design phase: The owner collaborates with architects and engineers to bring the project idea to life. This design team maps out the entire project, creating drawings that guide the construction process and project scope
• Bid phase: Next, the owner shares the project drawings for bidding to choose the best construction team. Contractors estimate construction costs based on the design process, project delivery methods, materials, labor, and timeline
• Build phase: After signing the contract, all materials are ordered to kickstart and complete construction. This is where the general contractor hires subcontractors, oversees operations, and keeps the project on track—while the owner stays in the loop for updates, tweaks, and cost adjustments

Pros

✅ Clear transparency and control for the owner with a step-by-step approach

✅ Flexibility to adjust designs before construction begins

Cons

❌ The owner holds the risk and responsibility for the entire project

❌ Construction begins only when the design is ready and completed

💈Bonus: 10 Free Construction Bid Templates For Project Success

2. Design-Build (DB)

In the Design-Build method, the owner signs a single contract with the design-build team for everything—design to construction. Unlike DBB’s separated steps, this approach encourages smoother teamwork.

What was once an ‘alternative to the DBB method’ is now a popular choice, bringing everyone together to focus on one goal: a successful, high-quality project.

Further, the design-build methodology is divided into five phases. Let’s walk through its working principle:

• Team selection: The owner forms a design-build team in one of two ways. They can either pick a firm that selects the architect, builder, and engineer or choose the team members or subcontractors themselves
• Project planning: This phase brings everyone together to understand the owner’s vision, budget, goals, delivery methods, and schedule. This is where the team analyzes the site to address expectations and challenges early on
• Design phase begins: With input from all team members, the architect leads the design process and creates elaborate drawings. Before the final call, the owner finalizes the design
• Bidding process: The design-builder handles the bidding process, contacting trusted subcontractors. They also set a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP), giving the owner cost clarity. If the project exceeds the GMP, the design-builder absorbs the extra costs to avoid burdening the owner
• Construction process: Once the GMP is locked in, subcontractors and suppliers join the team to begin the construction tasks. Since the team has been working together from the early stages, there’s minimal risk of inconsistencies

Pros

✅ Less commitment required from the owner

✅ Reduces rework and order changes by addressing issues early

Cons

❌ Typically costs more than other project delivery methods

❌ Misunderstandings can arise between contractors and the design team

3. Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)

CMAR is a construction project delivery method where the owner hires a construction manager (CM) to complete the project with a Global Minimum Requirement (GMR).

Unlike other building project delivery methods where the owner takes charge, the construction manager in CMAR oversees everything—from the design process to completion.

As a key consultant, the construction manager advises on the budget, schedule, quality, and feasibility. Plus, if costs exceed the initial estimate, they take responsibility for the extra expenses, ensuring the owner’s peace of mind.

Let’s explore how this method works:

• Choosing the CM: The owner selects a construction manager based on expertise, past performance, and success in complex projects. Sometimes, the owner asks construction project manager interview questions ## Implementing Construction Software to Enhance Project Delivery

For years, the construction industry has relied on manual processes to manage projects. This approach only led to fragmented operations, miscommunication, and inefficiencies.

That’s where most professionals drew the line to introduce construction management software terms and tools. This is what happened right after ⬇️

☎️ Effective communication and collaboration

Construction management software facilitates real-time communication and collaboration. It connects employees, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and owners across locations through chat, audio, and video, ensuring clarity and transparency while reducing confusion.

🎯 Improved project efficiency

If you’re tired of juggling repetitive tasks, you definitely need construction project management tools to improve construction efficiency . It automates updates, task assignments, and timeline management, saving you a ton of time.

Plus, you don’t need to switch between emails, spreadsheets, and calls as these tools integrate seamlessly with your existing systems, keeping everything in one place.

⏰ Timely risk assessment

The best construction management software comes with advanced features such as dashboards, reports, and Gantt charts to visualize complex projects and foresee risks. With this timely risk identification, you can deploy mitigation strategies and handle material shortages, budget overruns, and potential delays.

💡Pro Tip: Set up automated reminders for equipment maintenance based on usage hours logged in the system. Link these to your inventory management module to prevent costly breakdowns and further extend equipment life.

How ClickUp Enhances Construction Project Delivery?

Managing construction projects isn’t getting any simpler. With countless moving parts, multiple stakeholders, and tight deadlines, you need a solution that keeps everything under one roof.

That’s where you need ClickUp , a centralized project management platform, aka the everything app for work.

One of its core offerings, ClickUp for Construction Teams , helps manage the entire construction process effortlessly. From the designing phase to close-out, it seamlessly bridges the gap between planning and execution.

Plan, manage, and track construction projects from pre-sales to delivery in one singular point with ClickUp’s Construction Project Management Software

Let’s take a closer look:

• Plan tasks with ease by using 10+ views like Lists, Calendars, and Gantt Charts to fit your workflow
• Communicate clearly with clients and teams using built-in chat and file sharing to avoid confusion
• Collaborate effortlessly from anywhere by tagging teammates and adding comments real time on desktop or mobile
• Review and annotate files quickly with submittals, RFIs, drawings, and designs all in one shared space
• Track resources efficiently by organizing clients, contractors, and materials with Custom Fields
• Visualize goals and milestones with Dashboards to keep your team aligned
• Create accurate estimates for materials, purchase orders, and budgets without jumping between tools
• Draft SOPs for recurring tasks to maintain consistency throughout the project

Plus, ClickUp goes above and beyond to streamline your line of work. From automation to chat, it has everything. Let’s dig into its details:

Create detailed project plans

Use ClickUp Docs to create a detailed project plan and help your stakeholders access all project information in one place.

Use ClickUp Docs to develop a detailed project plan with your stakeholders

For instance, you can:

• Breakdown complex projects into realistic benchmarks
• Define roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders—design team, engineers, contractors, and subcontractors
• Include project scope, estimated costs, timeline, resource allocation, and workload distribution
• Highlight the potential risks the project might encounter in the journey

What’s more? You can also add relevant links, reports, videos, and presentations to make it more contextual and interesting.

💡Pro Tip: Start each day by customizing ClickUp’s Daily Construction Report Template for your specific project needs. Include a checklist for weather conditions, labor hours, and equipment usage. This simple 5-minute setup saves hours in end-of-day reporting.

Schedule projects and track progress

With ClickUp’s construction scheduling software , you’re in the driver’s seat, fully in control of your project timelines. Plan, track, and manage schedules easily to keep every project on track.

Plus, with ClickUp Gantt Charts , you can see your entire timeline at a glance, spot dependencies, identify critical paths, catch bottlenecks, and make wise moves to stay on schedule.

Track progress, dependencies, and challenges on a shared timeline using ClickUp Gantt Chart View

Facilitate smooth collaboration

If you’re exhausted from misunderstandings, delays, and endless change orders in your construction projects, then ClickUp Chat is the answer. It keeps everyone on your team fully connected on one platform.

No more hopping between apps and tools. With Chat, you can communicate seamlessly, create tasks directly from conversations, and even leverage AI to summarize messages and draft new ones—all within a single, powerful platform.

Collaborate with your teammates in real-time and reduce misunderstandings via ClickUp Chat

Here’s how ClickUp Chat makes collaboration effortless:

• Work directly from chat: Turn messages into tasks or subtasks with just one click—no more jumping between tools
• Stay connected with context: Conversations automatically link to tasks, documents, or other chats, so everything you need is in one place
• Resolve issues instantly: Use real-time messaging, @mentions, and AI-suggested responses to keep discussions flowing and tasks moving
• Simplify updates: Post updates on design changes or project milestones and make sure the whole team is in the loop

Automate tasks and streamline workflows

Managing construction projects is no small task, but ClickUp Automations simplifies it so you can focus on delivering projects on time.

Automate recurring tasks and save your valuable time using ClickUp Automations

This is how it streamlines your workflow:

• Automate task management: Use 100+ ready-made automation templates to assign tasks, update statuses, post comments, and more
• Keep workflows flexible: Assign tasks dynamically with dynamic assignees based on who created, watched, or triggered the action
• Shortcuts for efficiency: Set project shortcuts to assign tasks and watchers across project locations quickly

Combine your construction workflows with AI, and you’ll be invincible. Let’s look at it in detail.

Leverage the power of AI ClickUp Brain is a smart AI assistant for all your

construction projects , helping you get instant answers across your workspace.

Get answers about your projects and generate construction documents using ClickUp Brain

Here’s what we mean:

• Stay updated without the hassle: Wondering how the design phase is going or if materials have been ordered? Just ask, and ClickUp Brain gives you the status in seconds
• Simplify collaboration: Need an update from team members? It pulls the info you need without interrupting their workflow
• Find documents in a snap: Whether it’s contracts, RFIs, or design plans, ClickUp Brain makes it easy to locate and access what you’re looking for
• Keep everyone aligned: Get clear answers on project goals, timelines, and action items

💡Pro Tip: Pair ClickUp Brain with a pre-built construction management template to further simplify your workflow. It gives you a head start on project plans, schedules, and documentation, letting you focus on delivering your project successfully.

Further, use ClickUp’s Construction Management Template to oversee all phases or aspects of your construction projects in one place.

Download This Template

ClickUp’s Construction Project Management Template

With this template, you can:

• Track construction timelines with an easy-to-use calendar
• Organize tasks, resources, and budgets in a structured list
• Visualize workflows using a drag-and-drop Kanban board
• Schedule and manage project dates on a horizontal timeline

Even better, ClickUp has many construction management plan templates that you can use instantly to manage your construction schedule throughout the build.

Streamline Your Construction Projects Using ClickUp

The construction industry is plagued with inefficiencies, from juggling tools and team coordination to keeping track of timelines. These challenges leave even the most experienced professionals dazed.

But imagine managing a construction project where nothing gets lost in the shuffle—no missed deadlines, miscommunications, or endless back-and-forth.

What if there was a single platform to simplify it all? Enter ClickUp.

It streamlines every aspect of construction project management—assignments, communication, timelines, and more. Whether you’re coordinating complex designs, managing subcontractors, or tackling tight deadlines, ClickUp ensures everything runs smoothly.

Want to build a seamless construction management workflow? Try ClickUp for free today.