What is the consultant's role in Design-Build (DB)?

What is the consultant's role in Design-Build (DB)?

• A. The consultant acts as the lead designer with full design responsibility.
• B. The consultant acts as an advisor or reviewer but does not hold design responsibility.
• C. The client holds all design responsibility.
• D. The contractor holds all design responsibility.

Answer: (B)

In a Design-Build arrangement, one entity handles both design and construction, so the primary design responsibility sits with the design-builder. The consultant’s job is to provide expert input as an advisor or reviewer, not to own or manage the design. This means they help check that the program requirements, codes, standards, constructability, and overall quality are being met, and they may offer value-engineering input or independent verification. But the liability for the design and any resulting issues rests with the design-builder, not the external consultant. This distinction keeps the owner protected with independent oversight while ensuring a single point of responsibility for the project’s design and build activities.

In a Design-Build arrangement, one entity handles both design and construction, so the primary design responsibility sits with the design-builder. The consultant’s job is to provide expert input as an advisor or reviewer, not to own or manage the design. This means they help check that the program requirements, codes, standards, constructability, and overall quality are being met, and they may offer value-engineering input or independent verification. But the liability for the design and any resulting issues rests with the design-builder, not the external consultant. This distinction keeps the owner protected with independent oversight while ensuring a single point of responsibility for the project’s design and build activities.