Presenters explain progressive design‑build: pricing as an iterative, managed process

Presenters described progressive design‑build as an iterative, collaborative procurement approach that keeps the city engaged in cost tradeoffs throughout design and preconstruction.

Bob Fusilier (XL) and Edgar Lopez (design manager) said the team prices work as it is developed, maintains a prioritized list of features and uses ongoing subcontractor input to reduce end‑of‑project surprises. "You're pricing the work as we go along," Lopez said, describing a process where the team tracks cost and schedule impacts for multiple options so the city can make informed tradeoffs.

The presenters framed the method as different from a single low‑bid model with later change orders: instead the budget "flexes" during the design process, allowing the team and client to deliberately add or remove features based on cost, schedule and life‑cycle considerations. The team also stressed the role of an early "alignment session" to set priorities (design excellence, budget, schedule) and identify milestones for council and subcommittee reviews.

Council members asked how the approach safeguards taxpayer dollars; the team pointed to prior projects and the use of "decision‑ready information" — including lifecycle analysis and constructability review — to support budget discipline.