DBIA Sectors and Application 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the industrial sector, design-build is often preferred for greenfield manufacturing facilities because it:
- Eliminates the need for process engineers
- Compresses the schedule from land acquisition to production start (Correct answer)
- Avoids OSHA compliance requirements
- Guarantees the lowest possible construction cost
Correct answer: Compresses the schedule from land acquisition to production start
Overlapping design and construction phases on greenfield industrial sites can significantly reduce time from land acquisition to first production.
Question 2: Which DBIA designation specifically recognizes professionals with demonstrated expertise in design-build project delivery across multiple sectors?
- LEED AP
- Designated Design-Build Professional (DBIA) (Correct answer)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
Correct answer: Designated Design-Build Professional (DBIA)
The DBIA credential is awarded to professionals who pass an exam demonstrating competency in design-build principles, contract structures, and project delivery.
Question 3: When design-build is used for a sports and entertainment venue, which stakeholder group most uniquely influences the Basis of Design beyond typical building requirements?
- Local zoning board
- Franchise or league requirements and tenant team operations staff (Correct answer)
- State fire marshal
- Municipal bond underwriters
Correct answer: Franchise or league requirements and tenant team operations staff
Sports franchises and leagues impose specific technical standards for playing surfaces, broadcast infrastructure, and fan experience that shape the entire design.
Question 4: In the federal government sector, which agency pioneered the use of design-build under the Brooks Act alternative for construction projects?
- General Services Administration (GSA)
- Department of Defense (DoD) (Correct answer)
- Department of Transportation
- Veterans Administration
Correct answer: Department of Defense (DoD)
The DoD, particularly the Army Corps of Engineers and Naval Facilities Engineering Command, has been among the federal government's most prolific users of design-build.
Question 5: For a public school district using design-build in a state that restricts it, what legal mechanism most commonly allows the district to proceed?
- Executive order from the governor
- Special enabling legislation or a statutory pilot program exception (Correct answer)
- Federal waiver from the Department of Education
- Local referendum vote by taxpayers
Correct answer: Special enabling legislation or a statutory pilot program exception
States that generally prohibit design-build for public schools sometimes enact enabling legislation or pilot programs that carve out specific exceptions for school districts.
Question 6: Which factor most distinguishes design-build delivery in the semiconductor (chip fab) sector compared to standard commercial construction?
- Absence of union labor requirements
- Extreme precision requirements for vibration, air quality, and utility reliability (Correct answer)
- Simplified permitting due to economic development status
- Lower cost per square foot than typical office buildings
Correct answer: Extreme precision requirements for vibration, air quality, and utility reliability
Semiconductor fabs require sub-micron vibration tolerances, ultra-pure water, and continuous power, making early MEP and process system integration critical.
Question 7: In the context of design-build market sectors, what does 'vertical' construction refer to?
- High-rise buildings only
- Above-grade buildings as opposed to horizontal infrastructure like roads and utilities (Correct answer)
- Projects with a vertical organizational chart
- Structures built on sloped terrain
Correct answer: Above-grade buildings as opposed to horizontal infrastructure like roads and utilities
In design-build industry terminology, 'vertical' construction refers to buildings (above grade), contrasting with 'horizontal' construction such as roads, bridges, and pipelines.
DBIA Sectors and Application 5
In the industrial sector, design-build is often preferred for greenfield manufacturing facilities because it: