What is the difference between a standard architectural/engineering firm and a Design & Build firm?
KAI Design and Build is founded on a holistic approach to design.  Rather than a single lead person providing all the design direction for the project, KAI believes a collaboration by all design and construction personnel provides our clients with the most efficient and effective designs. All 21st century buildings require this team effort.  During all phases of the design process, KAI’s construction personnel review the project for constructability concerns, value engineering option, and technical accuracy.  Incorporating these ideas early in the design process provides our clients and project teams with the opportunity research to multiple alternative solutions.   Coupled with in-house estimating and scheduling resources, KAI can quickly identify potential cost and time saving options for our clients to consider.  Collaborating with a Design and Build firm allows our clients the best of design ability coupled with the knowledge their project can be efficiently built.

What is the difference between a Design/Build firm and a Design & Build firm?
Most Design/Build firms are established by a general contractor who subcontracts the design services to a standard architectural/engineering firm.  Keeping the designer in a subordinate role allows the contractor total control of the project.    The architectural/engineering firm minimizes their design efforts in order to stay competitive, while the contractor demands the least expensive initial solution. Unfortunately this contractual alignment forces a lack of collaboration, and any value-added services for the client.  An example of this is where a certain mechanical system type may involve minimal design effort, have a low cost in initial construction, but have much greater cost of operation.  The architectural/engineering firm of a design/builder would have no impetus to design a better system, the contractor have no interest in building a more expensive system, and the client would never know the difference.  As a Design & Build firm, KAI’s design-led construction management maximizes the collaborative process by having design and build with equal status, sharing the risks mitigation processes, their rewards, and benefits with our clients.

Does KAI only perform work where they are the Designer and Builder on the project?
KAI offers services as both the Designer and Builder, but also performs a large portion of our work as either the Designer or the Builder.  We believe the Design and Build advantages are the best for our client, but also understand there are other factors that may not make this solution possible. 

What is meant by “design-led construction management”?
Design-led construction management involves the identification of cost and time savings in a project in the initial design phases, and verifying implementation throughout the project.  “Pure” construction management does not get involved in a project until the design is essentially fixed, and therefore little construction knowledge is implemented.

Aside from the Design & Build approach, what makes KAI designs unique?
Although KAI has a delivery-oriented approach to architecture and engineering, KAI is sensitive to the aesthetic and artistic aspects of our environment.  We are especially proud of our knowledge and ability to design urban environments.  To assist us with “signature” design project, we have a strategic alliance with an internationally renowned designer to assist us in especially complex or high-end project designs.  KAI also has two LEED accredited designers whose knowledge of environmentally sensitive design requirements have been critical not only to our multiple LEED certified projects, but all our designs.