Ray Messer: 'Alternative delivery is here'

Raymond F. Messer, P.E., is president and chairman of 75-year-old Houston-based consulting engineer Walter P. Moore. Messer has more than 30 years of experience in engineering design, project management, and construction, with a special interest in the interface between design and construction. He has served on the board of the Post-Tensioning Institute, and is involved in the Texas Council of Engineering Companies, the American Council of Engineering Companies, and the Council of American Structural Engineers. Messer holds a bachelor's in civil engineering and a master's in engineering mechanics from Columbia University, New York, and a bachelor's in mathematics from Carroll College, Helena, Mont.

BD&C: Your firm is involved in quite a few design/build projects. What are your thoughts on this project delivery method?

RM: Design/build, when done right, allows us to integrate our design with the specific contractor and construction trades engaged on the project. We can take advantage of the constructor's particular skill set, and it allows the design to take place much more quickly. Owners like it because they have a single point of accountability and an early commitment to a price.

The process has been well received in the market because of these advantages, and also because, until recently, there have been fewer claims associated with design/build projects versus design/bid/build work. But that's starting to change. Six years ago, DBIA's annual claims review publication ("Design/Build Lessons Learned") was about 40 pages and covered nine or 10 issues. In 2004, that publication was 240 pages and addressed many more issues.

BD&C: Why the proliferation of claims?

RM: It's happening for several reasons, in my opinion. First, owners are beginning to select design/build teams on the basis of low bid. Of all delivery methods, design/build is the one that should be selected on the basis of qualifications. Also, traditional low-bid contractors are becoming engaged and bringing the change-order mindset to the process. This is too bad, because design/build has so much to offer. Finally, the legal process is evolving with claims based on mere precedent. In other words, claims build upon claims.

BD&C: Why is bidding a design/build project problematic?

RM: The bidding process forces the design/builder to minimize or even eliminate any contingency. Putting a low bid, lump-sum price together on 30% documents often forces the design/build team to play the change-order game later.

BD&C: Any other drawbacks to design/build?

RM: Some contractors see design/build as a way to control the building design process. In many cases, they don't understand or respect the design professionals' legal obligation through licensure to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the public. They don't understand why we have to abide by certain code requirements. One contractor told me that we should not worry about shoring earth excavations on a project because they've never had a shoring failure before. Well, it only takes one failure to kill somebody.

BD&C: Performance-based design seems to be garnering attention in structural engineering. Does this approach have merit?

RM: I believe performance-based design has a future in consulting engineering. Much like design/build, the alternative delivery of design and construction is here. With increasingly sophisticated modeling software and a better understanding of the properties and physics of materials, engineers can design using material only where it is needed. This will yield better solutions, both from a cost and performance perspective.

But it's not going to happen overnight in this country. The biggest obstacle will be convincing some of the building officials. They like prescriptive rules because they're easier to administer.

BD&C: Speaking of software, has your firm delved into building information modeling yet?

RM: Yes, we're aggressively pursuing BIM. In fact, we're using BIM to design the new Federal Courthouse in Jackson, Miss. It's the first GSA building to be designed using BIM. GSA is starting to require BIM for all of its projects, so we got on board early.

BIM is a powerful tool. It allows us, for example, to integrate our structural model with the mechanical ductwork to find out where there are clashes and interferences. BIM offers wonderful benefits for building owners as well. If a pump goes out, instead of going down into the maintenance room and rummaging through a stack of drawings, the owner can open up the BIM and, with a few clicks, determine the capacity of the pump, the serial number, and the manufacturer.

BD&C: What keeps you up at night?

RM: Figuring out how to attract and retain good people. We do not graduate enough engineers in the U.S. to meet the demand.

BD&C: What are some strategies for recruiting and retaining people?

RM: We have a full-time recruiter on staff, and have developed a comprehensive learning program. We're also always looking to improve our benefits package. We reduced benefits eligibility from a 30-hour work week to a 20-hour week to encourage engineers with young children and retirement-age staff to stay on board part-time.