Organizations such as the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) are supporting the use of collaborative project delivery systems; however the movement towards these systems is rather slow. Currently, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is believed to be one of the most prominent movements in enhancing the performance of the construction industry. A lot of optimism has been associated with IPD and its potential to address the inefficiencies inherent in the construction industry. Although IPD is still in its development phase, several owners, architects, and contractors have reported success in terms of cost, time, and quality as obtained through the utilization of IPD in construction projects. However, there is some reluctance in pursing this system, especially by specialized contractors such as the electrical contractors.

 

This presentation will report on the findings from a recently completed study funded by the ELECTRI International (the Foundation for Electrical Construction) entitled “Involvement of Electrical Contractors in Integrated Project Delivery.” The primary goals of this study were to identify issues and risks for electrical contractors to pursue IPD and provide recommendations to address those issues and risks. As such, the study sought to gain a better understanding of the electrical contractors’ point of view with respect to IPD, and how it could affect their ability to pursue, and ultimately complete IPD projects successfully.