Speaking at DBIA Western Pacific Regional Conference

At the DBIA regional conference in Scottsdale, AZ,  AC Martin Principal Susan O’Connell, joined a multidisciplinary panel representing four essential design-build perspectives. Their presentation, “Choosing Your Design-Build Partners to Maximize Collaboration and Innovation,” examined how early partner selection can shape a project’s success—from the pursuit and preconstruction phases through design and construction. Aligning the team around the project vision, risk allocation, decision-making authority, and key personnel can support integrated planning, more accurate cost and schedule forecasting, faster decisions, and greater continuity.

The panelist included:

• Susan O’Connell, AIA, DBIA, LEED AP BD+C, AC Martin — Architect’s perspective
• Monica Amalfitano, PE, DBIA, LEED AP BD+C, Swinerton; formerly Director of Design and Construction at CSU Long Beach — Owner’s perspective
• Jenna Heerhartz, DBIA, Glumac – Subconsultant’s perspective
• Lamia Porter, DBIA, Senior Estimator, Sundt Construction — Preconstruction / Builder’s perspective

Drawing from their distinct roles, the panelists presented tailored checklists for design-build teams selecting owners, architects selecting builders, builders selecting design partners, and teams selecting consultants and trade partners. Evaluation criteria included progressive design-build experience, cultural fit, personnel commitment, fair contracting practices, realistic RFQ requirements, transparent cost modeling, and demonstrated collaborative behavior.

The panel also discussed strategies for moving teams beyond collaboration toward innovation. These included active listening, psychological safety, critical “what if” conversations, iterative design paired with conceptual pricing, rapid learning cycles, and a unified focus on the owner’s mission. Practical tools—such as partnering workshops, pull planning, daily huddles, BIM execution plans, structured coordination meetings, shared digital workspaces, and executive check-ins—help make collaboration consistent and repeatable.

Through real-world examples, the panel demonstrated how early and ongoing collaboration can reduce rework, stretch limited budgets, manage risk, and create more innovative, cost-effective project outcomes.

The presentation received particularly strong feedback for its partner-selection checklists and reinforced AC Martin’s expertise in design-build delivery—an increasingly important method representing approximately 53% of construction spending in California.