CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 The Practitioners’ Forum is your opportunity to engage directly with peers and DBIA leadership on issues critical to the continued success and evolution of design-build. This interactive session invites candid input from across the industry on challenges, opportunities, and strategies to strengthen design-build delivery. A key topic this year is the growing role of Owner Advisors. As more Owners embrace design-build—many for the first time— Owner Advisors well-versed in design-build best practices are helping bridge gaps in knowledge and capacity, guiding collaborative teams toward successful outcomes. With DBIA exploring a potential specialty credential for these professionals, your insights can help shape how we recognize and support Owner Advisors in driving Owners to embrace Design-Build Done Right®, while also driving whole-team success.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 Get exclusive insights from this first-of-its-kind study on Progressive Design-Build (PDB). DBIA, the Charles Pankow Foundation, the ACEC Research Institute and the University of Colorado Boulder partnered to evaluate how Qualifications-Based Selection, target pricing and other PDB practices address risk and insurance challenges for the engineering and design community. Although the full published report will release later in Spring 2026, this session offers a first look at the findings — well before they’re released anywhere else! Moderator Keith Molenaar, Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Colorado Boulder, will discuss the study’s outcomes followed by a panel of Owners and design-build professionals from the research project’s Steering Committee who will offer insights and recommendations that will shape how the industry tackles risk, insurance and project performance moving forward.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 As design-build project delivery continues its rapid growth, current legislation restricts many municipalities from utilizing the project delivery model that has proven to be the most efficient and collaborative method that delivers the best value for their water and wastewater projects. This session is designed to empower Owners and their advisors to navigate and influence the changing legislative landscape. Our expert panel—featuring a key legislative sponsor, a municipal Owner, and national leaders in design, construction, and collaborative delivery advocacy—will move beyond theory to provide a practical roadmap. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of pending legislative changes, the potential impacts on their communities, and the actionable steps they can take now to prepare their organizations. The discussion will focus on delivering best-value solutions and leveraging Design-Build Done Right® to better serve ratepayers and build the future of water infrastructure.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 In today’s competitive market, attracting talented Design Build teams is more challenging than ever. HRSD has embraced becoming an Owner of Choice by proactively collaborating with partners throughout every phase of the project cycle – from early planning to final delivery. HRSD exemplifies the Owner of Choice philosophy throughout the nearly $3B SWIFT program, which leveraged collaborative project delivery. Through intentional industry outreach, consistent use of standardized procurement documents, identifying staff committed to represent treatment plant Operations, and using collaborative project delivery best practices, HRSD has embraced best practices. Participants will learn how to apply the Owner of Choice mindset across all phases of a project. From planning efforts such as HRSD Industry Day that raise awareness about upcoming procurements, benefits of using standard procurement documents, and the integration of an Owners Adviser, attendees will learn how to best prepare their utility before embarking on their own journeys. The presentation will also cover design and construction practices including timely payments, assignment of dedicated Operations Liaisons, and more. By the end of the session, attendees will have insight into strategies to enhance collaboration, streamline project delivery, and the tools used to implement HRSD’s SWIFT Program- their largest capital expansion ever.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 The Owner Advisor’s (OA) role in Design-Build is not universally understood and varies significantly. FMI’s recently released study highlighted polarizing opinions about effective implementation of OAs. The panel will share best practices and lessons learned on the what, where, when, and why of OAs – all aimed increasing success on projects. What? Explore DBIA’s primer on OAs from all angles through the lens of Design-Build Done Right. The panelists bring perspectives from different roles in the industry including owner, design-builder, and owner advisors from both small and large firms. When? Examine when OAs are engaged based on project complexity and owner readiness leveraging DBIA’s Owner Assessment resources. This will include detailed discussion on owner readiness as a key driver of success. Where? Learn where OAs are effectively engaged across a range of owners with varying sizes and levels of experience in Design-Build. The panel will dive into DBIA’s OA primer and new Universal Best Practices. Why? Discover the value OAs can drive at each stage of the project. Starting with owner mindset, budget development, and project delivery system selection– and through construction. Insights from panelists and audience participation will guide this interactive session on OAs focused on Design-Build Done Right.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 To combat elevated PFAS and prepare for future 1,4-Dioxane regulations, the Morris-Delair Water Treatment Plant in Pennsauken, NJ, implemented a state-of-the-art treatment system including 16 GAC vessels and three UV reactors. While the project successfully restored the plant's capacity to a level need by the City of Camden, its true success lies in the collaborative Design-Build process that made it possible. Our presentation will detail how all project stakeholders—Owner, Engineer, and Contractor—operated as a cohesive team to navigate complex challenges, maintain an aggressive schedule, and foster a truly agile working environment. We will spotlight a pivotal moment when a design revision, initiated shortly before the 60% deliverable, was leveraged to achieve unforeseen operational improvements and cost efficiencies. Attendees will gain insights into the criteria for selecting the right Design-Build partners and the tangible benefits of a collaborative project delivery model. This presentation will provide a brief technical discussion on the treatment process implemented for the removal of PFAS and treatment of 1,4-Dioxane from the groundwater sources. However, the primary focus and the "real story" is how teamwork and a flexible mindsets can transform unexpected challenges into successful project outcomes.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 Design-Build is more than just a project delivery method—it’s a journey that begins with a shared vision and ends with lasting impact. In From Launch to Legacy: Owners Share the Design-Build Journey, a panel of seasoned public owners will walk through their firsthand experiences in initiating, managing, and sustaining successful design-build projects. From early project planning and team selection to risk management, innovation, and lessons learned, attendees will gain candid insight into what works, what doesn’t, and how to deliver enduring value. Whether you’re an owner, practitioner, or industry partner, this session offers an invaluable opportunity to learn directly from those who have lived the design-build journey from concept to completion—and beyond.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 What happens when a billion-dollar private investment demands critical water infrastructure—and there’s no time for business as usual? As private developers drive aggressive schedules and complex utility needs, progressive design-build partnerships are emerging as a vital tool for aligning owner urgency with infrastructure delivery. This session explores how a collaborative team—including a global food processor, a regional water district, and a progressive design-build joint venture—delivered a greenfield wastewater treatment plant under intense time and budget constraints. The case highlights how early contractor involvement, flexible phasing, and trust-based teaming enabled the project to meet industrial-scale expectations while seamlessly integrating with long-term public utility goals.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 King County Wastewater Treatment Division’s M Street Trunk is a reinforced concrete pipeline in Auburn, Washington, conveying untreated wastewater to the South Treatment Plant in Renton. Installed in 1963, the pipeline has deteriorated due to long-term hydrogen sulfide exposure. The rehabilitation effort spans over 13,800 feet and crosses city streets, airport property, and residential neighborhoods – posing significant logistical and permitting challenges. This presentation explores how the Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery method helped the project team recover lost time and advance construction. Chosen for its flexibility and collaborative nature, PDB proved critical amid setbacks including key personnel changes, incomplete design deliverables, ADA-related permitting issues, and a scope change near the airport that delayed Phase 2. By applying “Design-Build Done Right” principles, the County and PDB team fostered trust, streamlined workflows, and built a cohesive team. Recognizing the tight timeline, the project was split into two packages, enabling early progress during the first seasonal construction window. Package 1 design was completed in July 2025, with construction underway as of September. This presentation will share lessons learned around transparency, role ownership, and real-time decision-making, and demonstrate how PDB’s adaptability helped deliver a solution for a critical piece of infrastructure.

CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2028 This session explores the Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s (HRSD) strategic decision to reduce capacity-related sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) mandated by federal Consent Decree across its service area through a collaborative delivery method utilizing Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act (PPEA) procedures. PPEA enables public agencies to form partnerships with the private sector to complete major educational and infrastructure projects. HRSD provides sewer conveyance and treatment services for 20 cities and counties (Localities) and nearly two million people in Southeastern Virginia. Faced with regulatory mandates and complex infrastructure needs, HRSD selected Progressive Design-Build to provide flexibility, innovation, and alignment with stakeholder goals throughout the program's complex, interrelated, and geographically diverse projects As a part of the program, the engineering-led design-build team conducted extensive efforts including studies, designs, and is now rehabilitating locality and privately owned sewer systems to reduce inflow and infiltration and eliminate SSOs. The presentation will highlight unique aspects of the inflow and infiltration reduction program that made collaborative delivery the right fit, including team formation, early engagement, risk management, and schedule optimization. Attendees will gain insight into how HRSD’s approach fosters transparency, optimizes SSO reduction, and sets a precedent for future programs under similar regulatory constraints.