University of Maryland

ENCE325 Introduction to Construction Management

Name: Vitor Candeia de Andrade Pinheiro
UID: 114496768
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is all about collaborative processes and integrated
teams, these two phrases are great to describe what happens on these kind of project. IPD came
to change how the construction industry works. Living in a time where all areas look to increase
productivity, the construction industry didnt appear to change too much, been characterized as
a low-tech industry with old and traditional methods. IPD is the substitution to the traditional
project delivery where all processes were separate, teams were fragmented, risk wasnt shared
and the flux of ideas was very limited. IPD is the completely opposite, teams work together since
early design and continuing through to project handover, these teams include owner, designers
(architect, structural engineers) and contractor. All processes occur with collaboration of each
part, what permits a better flux of ideas and technical knowledge that prevents unnecessary costs,
unlikely design options and communication mistakes. The shared risk makes all teams work
together in favor of the project success, this way all companies and people engaged on the
project will work with their whole potential, differently from traditional methods where blame
was passed along.
Everyone has a lot to gain with the implementation of IPD. Owners can work along with
designers and contractors to find solutions that meet their business enterprise goals, controlling
costs and budgets. With IPD, designers are allowed to get prior knowledge from contractors,
making choices better for everyone and preventing mistakes. Contractors, who on the traditional
way just get to know the project when it`s already designed, now have the opportunity to work
on the project since the beginning, giving some advices and when its time to start the
construction its much easier to deal with the project.
Technology used to be a problem on the traditional project delivery, it was difficult to
share information. With the advance of technology, new software like BIM (building information
modeling) emerged helping the construction industry, they can provide all information and data
of a project on online platforms.