Integrated project delivery (IPD) and design-build are both contractual agreements that define responsibility for delivering a project and managing risks. In design-build, the owner executes a single contract with a single design-build entity. The design-builder assumes responsibility for meeting the contract requirements, including spotting inconsistencies between prescriptive requirements and performance standards and reporting those to the owner and other stakeholders.
In IPD the owner, architect, and general contractor all come together in a single agreement that shares responsibility across all stakeholders. By defining the contract before the project begins, all contractors, subcontractors, and trades are in communication with the owner from the outset. Many integrated project delivery contracts include incentives for design and construction teams to foster collaboration, align on goals, and encourage lean construction management.
Digital project delivery can flexibly support integrated project delivery, design-build, and other project delivery methods.