Sara,

We have had varying success with design build- there are obvious pros
and cons to using this method. If there is one phrase that I would use
with it, it is "be careful." While we were constructing our 1886 rural
crossroads and farm we utilized design/build. The most obvious advantage
to it is that it can be much cheaper in the overall financial picture of
any project. In addition, the speed of development is increased, so you
can get more done in a shorter amount of time.

This, however, can cause problems, if you are not careful. The
disadvantage of design/build (perhaps in your situation- although I
don't know specifics) is that without the preplanning being done you
might risk missing out on educational opportunities within the final
product of an exhibit, and you can face challenges doing needed
research/fact finding in a shorter amount of time that might be
necessary to fully get where you want to go. Front end research time is
foreshortened, particularly if you have inadequate staffing, so without
proper research/design time you can find yourself in a bind.

If you go with this route, I would recommend setting up weekly, and/or
daily meetings with all parties involved- particularly as the project
nears completion. (Such as designers, fabricators, researchers, etc.
This is particularly important if you are dealing with outside
contractors.) That way you know immediately of any research or design
elements that need to be accomplished immediately (in other words, that
day) to keep the construction moving forward. Even with these meetings,
we found that there were opportunities and research that still needed to
be done- and so delayed construction. If you are not careful, you will
be scrambling to get something designed within the same time frame that
it needs to be constructed.

You can also find yourself paying attention to certain details, while
other aspects (through no ones fault- but merely because of lack of
time) get overlooked, or peripherally addressed. This can, obviously,
cause the final product to change, or be slightly different than you
originally planned. This can also require resources to be acquired later
to address those other aspects- when it might have been easier to
address those issues at the front end of the project.

I don't know if all of that made sense, and if you would like to
contact me off-list I'd be glad to talk to you more about the process
that we went through.The process can be challenging, and has good points
and bad- but it is definitely something that you should discuss with all
parties before embarking on.

Good luck.

Dan Schoeneberg



Dan Schoeneberg
Historic Area Manager
1886 Liberty Corner
13400 Allisonville Road
Fishers, Indiana
46038
[log in to unmask]
www.connerprairie.org
www.whiteriverfolkfestival.org
www.ruralhistoryproject.org


>>> [log in to unmask] 08/03/04 11:08AM >>>
Hello,



I would like to make contact with contacts from museums that recently
underwent renovation or expansion projects that used a design-build
process for their exhibit fabrication.  We are exploring the
possibility
of using this option for the second half of our exhibit process, and
would like input on:



1)       the pros and cons of using design-build (quality control,
efficiency, level of museum oversight)

2)       how responsibilities are divided between designer, museum
staff, primary and other fabricators



Thanks!



Sara



Sara Habich

Please Touch Museum

210 N. 21st Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(p) 215-963-0667 x3138

(e) [log in to unmask]




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