WCW26

Infrastructure project delivery methodology is changing, particularly in the areas of water and wastewater. Projects delivered using traditional methods such as Design-Bid-Build (one of the most common and well-understood models), have historically promised stability, certainty, and confidence. However, in the years following COVID, the industry has experienced continued uncertainty and instability, causing project delivery to evolve. Systems are more complex, supply chains and constructability challenges remain significant, and owners are demanding more for their money – forcing a paradigm shift. Projects are also being accelerated, with phased permitting and more responsive procurement and supply chain needs becoming desperate to meet owner demands and expectations.  
Regardless of which role we play in infrastructure project delivery – including owners, project managers, engineers, and construction experts – we have all experienced significant challenges and negative impacts. As an industry, we need to take a step back and navigate an improved path forward to meet the unique challenges facing today’s projects. Collaborative delivery models and methodology are now part of the mainstream conversation, and Canada is continuing to experience more project teams exploring these model applications.
The alternative and collaborative delivery methodology is centred around the relational and alternative contracts that intentionally embed collaborative elements. This includes Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Progressive Design Build (PDB), and Alliancing. These contract models all focus on integrated and interpersonal practices that break down silos within the industry, especially between owners and project teams, as well as between design and construction professionals. They emphasize early contractor involvement to enable design-to-budget and constructability, address supply chain availabilities, and increase the use of innovative construction practices. These models place greater focus on proactive, integrated, adaptive, and agile planning systems to reconcile and balance all variables in improved ways to achieve owners' value proposition working within time and budget constraints. This shift has also raised increased awareness on the importance of the more humanistic domains and related topics for work team environments, including team performance, engagement, behaviors, trust and culture.   Lastly and possibly more importantly, these methods also have proven themselves as a way to lower risk, stabilize schedule, and navigate our increased complexity.  
This session will explore the new and emerging methodologies that are playing out across North America in infrastructure and dig into the key opportunities and challenges associated with delivering them. The presenters will draw on their collaborative coaching expertise related to these models – the good, the bad, and the complex. In the end, attendees will walk away with a clearer understanding of how to determine when to consider these models, and how to prepare for improved successful implementation and participation.