Construction · 8 November 2026 · 3 min read
Design-build or traditional procurement: which suits your project?
Two common ways to deliver a building, and how to choose between them.
By Acorns team
There are two common ways to organise a building project. Each has advantages.
Traditional
You hire an architect to design the building, then invite contractors to bid for the construction. It gives you a full design before prices are fixed, but takes longer and splits responsibility between parties.
Design-build
One team designs and builds. Decisions are faster, costs are known earlier, and there is a single point of responsibility if something goes wrong.
How to choose
Choose traditional if you want competitive bids on a fully finished design.
Choose design-build if speed, simplicity and one accountable partner matter most.
Not sure? Ask us, we'll explain the trade-offs for your specific project.
