Outcome-Based Design-Build: An Ideal Path for Facility Renewal
For public or even long-standing private institutions, maintaining facilities isn’t just about quick fixes—it’s about long-term planning, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Traditional design-build contracts may focus on completing projects on time and within budget, but they often fail to consider the bigger picture: How will this investment perform over its entire lifecycle? Will it maximize energy efficiency? Will it stand the test of time?
That’s where outcome-based design-build comes in. Unlike conventional design-build firms, we integrate the engineering principles of Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) into our approach to renovating and repairing aging buildings, ensuring that facilities are fully functional and optimized for long-term performance and cost savings.
Why Outcome-Based Design-Build is the Superior Choice
Most public officials—whether superintendents, county managers, or university administrators—have a singular goal: to serve their community. Managing a portfolio of public infrastructure that needs constant maintenance and repair is a consistent (and often financially draining) challenge.
For private commercial or industrial owners and managers, long-term assets that need constant maintenance and repair is a challenge when balancing this with profitability and quality of the available product or service of that business.
With the now-known knowledge that 85% of a building's infrastructure cost is over the life of the asset, and not in the first cost, industry trends show that traditional design-build contractors may lack the analytical tools to calculate how long equipment will last and make recommendations that serve communities' or businesses' longer-term needs. This leads to short-term solutions that may result in higher maintenance costs and premature replacements.
The Benefits of an Outcome-Based Design-Build Approach:
Lifecycle Cost Analysis – We assess the total lifecycle cost of infrastructure beyond initial costs, ensuring that decisions made today will benefit facilities operations and cost for decades to come.
Superior Equipment Selection – Unlike firms focused solely on upfront costs, we help clients select equipment based on long-term energy efficiency and operational reliability.
Energy Performance Integration – Our approach is unique because we combine the essentials of energy efficiency and building performance with traditional design-build, creating better overall cost structures and optimized outcomes.
Tailored Solutions for Public Institutions – From enhancing learning environments in schools to increasing efficiency in government buildings or upgrading university infrastructure, we deliver customized solutions that align with your priorities and community goals.
Tailored Solutions for Private Institutions – Whether it’s improving the Net Operating Income of a real estate asset, optimizing the quality control of a production facility, or expanding the revenue generating capability of a physical asset, we customize our approach to meet the unique needs of each client.
The Outcome-Based Design Build Difference: A Dual-Force Approach
Most firms specialize in either design-build or ESPC—but we bring the best of both worlds together. We still maintain the key components of a design-build firm, like maintaining a single point of contact that enables a project to be implemented on time and on budget. Our dual-force approach brings in abilities like assisting with grant and funding sources and provides clients with a comprehensive strategy that ensures their facilities operate efficiently long after the project is completed while maintaining each method's benefits.
Planning for Generations to Come
Public institutions often operate buildings for 50-70 years before replacing them. Many private sector businesses are now owning assets for even 20-30 years more commonly. With our outcome-based design-build, we help clients extend the useful life of their facilities, ensuring that infrastructure remains functional and efficient for as long as possible.
Many general contractors and traditional design-build firms simply lack the expertise to perform these critical calculations. As an accredited Energy Services Company (ESCO), we have the tools to leverage data and deep industry expertise to make wiser long-term decisions, giving our clients confidence that their investments will pay off for generations to come.
Take the Next Step with Energy Systems Group
If you’re looking for a smarter way to renew your facilities, outcome-based design-build is the answer. As a design-builder with access to a broader set of solutions, we have the experience and expertise to help you maximize efficiency, reduce costs, and extend the life of your buildings.
Ready to learn more? Contact us today to explore how our approach can transform your facilities for the long haul.
