Design Build
For the Owner, the design/build method provides a single point of contact and responsibility throughout the life of the project. The firm hired by the owner will perform both design and construction. Entities offering this service may be design/build firms with in-house employees or joint-venture firms that come together contractually to perform a single project. In either case, the design/build entity can hire subcontractors who perform the actual construction in the field.
This mode is used extensively in certain industries, particularly industrial construction. The complexity of industrial projects such as refineries, power plants, and chemical plants makes them a good candidate for design/build. Before the design/bid/build method became popular, design/build was actually the preferred mode of delivery for almost all projects, although it was not named as such. An owner hired a master builder, who designed the project, acquired the materials, and hired and supervised the craft workers on the site.