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Design‑build pitched to Stokes County board as way to limit change orders and speed school projects
Summary
A design‑build team from Performance Services presented to the Stokes County Board of Education, arguing single‑point responsibility, open‑book pricing and guaranteed designs can reduce change orders and speed delivery; board members asked about local subcontractors, renovation trade‑offs and timelines.
Greg Cave of Performance Services told the Stokes County Board of Education that design‑build can reduce the risk of cost overruns and schedule slips by giving the district a single point of responsibility.
“We guarantee our design,” Cave said, adding that the company’s approach aims to eliminate change orders when projects are designed to a fixed budget. Cave described open‑book pricing and customer‑satisfaction tracking as tools the firm uses to hold its team accountable.
Why it matters: Stokes County officials said they expect to build or renovate schools in coming years but must be frugal with taxpayer funds. The design‑build model, proponents said, promises fewer surprises and faster delivery than traditional design‑bid‑build contracts.
In the presentation, Cave and Norm Montgomery, Performance Services’ operations manager, described how design‑build transfers risk to the design‑builder: the firm designs to the owner's budget, bids subcontractors openly and, if the team’s design contains errors, the firm absorbs the cost rather than the district.
Board members pressed the presenters on local participation and project details. “Do you have your own subcontractors that you normally use, or do you send that out for bid?” asked Board member Bryant. Montgomery said the company maintains an in‑house controls team but can use preferred local vendors and prefers open competition for subcontracted work so the district sees market pricing.
Members also asked whether renovation could be more expensive than new construction when hidden infrastructure problems exist. The presenters said it depends on an assessment of a building’s condition; extensive underground or mechanical issues can tip the balance toward new construction.
On schedule, Performance Services estimated construction of an elementary facility could be roughly 12–18 months, with design and permitting taking an additional 3–5 months; a blended, overlap schedule could produce an 18–24 month total from design start to opening.
The presentation did not commit Stokes County Schools to a delivery method. Administrators said the board will need to review policy changes and procurement steps before choosing design‑build, and any decision would follow required public processes and state approvals.
