Strategies to Minimize Design-Build Cost Variability

Recorded On: 03/21/2025

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CONTENT EXPIRES: December 31, 2027

Managing cost on any large capital improvement project is challenging in the best of times. Due to the variability caused by market inflation and the limited human resources in the water industry, public sector Owners are challenged to initially estimate costs and manage these costs as a project is developed. Setting expectations, defining cost at each stage of project development and considering contingencies/risk are critical to project success. Accurate cost estimating and the need to course correct (modify project scope) as a project develops is often needed and is inherent in the Design-Build process. The Design-Build delivery model is best suited to help public-sector Owners weather the "cost uncertainty storm" and limit the potential corrosive effects of unattainable expectations when cost and scope are not in alignment. This presentation will highlight the techniques available to successfully manage cost and to keep the trust relationship in tact between Owner and Design-Builder.

Bruce Husselbee, PhD, PE, BCEE, DBIA

Chief Engineer

Hampton Roads Sanitation District

Bruce W. Husselbee is the Chief Engineer for the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) and has worked for HRSD for twenty-eight (28) years. Prior to HRSD, he worked in the consulting engineering field for twelve (12) years. His responsibilities include the management of the Asset Management, Design & Construction and Planning & Analysis Divisions. A major role for his department includes implementing HRSD’s $3.8B, 10-Year Capital Improvement Program.

Kevin Waddell, Assoc. DBIA

Preconstruction and Estimating Manager - Water

Burns & McDonnell

Kevin has 30+ years of experience working for self-performing contractors as a chief estimator, company owner, project manager, and preconstruction manager on water and wastewater infrastructure as well as heavy civil infrastructure of various types. As the national preconstruction and estimating manager for Public Infrastructure at Burns & McDonnell, he is responsible for developing conceptual construction cost models, work scopes, scope gap analyses, subcontractor and supplier solicitations, review and selections, coordination between design-estimating-construction teams and

Jeffrey Keller, PE, Env SP, DBIA

Technical Services Manager, Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc.

Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company, Inc.

Jeff is the Technical Services Manager at Burns & McDonnell, located at the firm’s Kansas City Missouri headquarters. In his 27-year career, he has focused on design-build of wastewater facilities throughout North America. He has served in multiple design and management roles at his firm, and is Professional Engineer and a DBIA Design-Build Professional. Outside of Burns & McDonnell, Jeff serves on multiple professional society roles, including the DBIA National Water/Wastewater Markets Committee.