DBIA CERTIFICATION EXAM PREPARATION
120 Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales
Question 1
Which single characteristic most fundamentally distinguishes design-build from design-bid-
build?
A. The owner holds one contract that covers both design and construction
B. The project is always delivered faster than design-bid-build
C. A guaranteed maximum price is required on every project
D. The architect always leads the design-build entity
Correct Answer: A. The owner holds one contract that covers both design and construction
Rationale: The defining structural feature of design-build is a single contract between the owner and
one entity (the design-builder) that is responsible for both design and construction. Speed (B) is a
common benefit but not the defining feature, a GMP (C) is one of several possible commercial
structures, and either a contractor or a design professional may lead the design-build entity (D).
Question 2
Under the DBIA's 'Design-Build Done Right(R)' philosophy, which of the following is one of the
core principles?
A. Select the design-build team based solely on lowest price
B. Foster relationships based on trust and open communication
C. Finalize 100% of design documents before selecting the design-builder
D. Prohibit the design-builder from having any design staff
Correct Answer: B. Foster relationships based on trust and open communication
Rationale: Design-Build Done Right(R) principles emphasize commitment to a culture of open
communication and trust among all parties. Selecting solely on price (A) contradicts best-value
selection principles, finalizing full design before selection (C) describes design-bid-build, and design-
build entities commonly include in-house or contracted design professionals (D).
,Question 3
In a design-build project, who typically holds the single point of responsibility for both design and
construction?
A. The owner's project manager
B. The design-builder
C. The construction manager at risk
D. The owner's design consultant
Correct Answer: B. The design-builder
Rationale: Design-build creates single-point responsibility with the design-builder, who is contractually
accountable for both design and construction outcomes. This consolidation is what differentiates it
from multi-party delivery methods like CM at Risk (C), where design and construction contracts remain
separate.
Question 4
Which of the following best describes the 'design-build gap'?
A. The time between substantial completion and final completion
B. The period between contract award and notice to proceed
C. The risk created when a design professional prepares bridging documents without construction
input
D. The difference between the owner's budget and the low bid
Correct Answer: C. The risk created when a design professional prepares bridging documents
without construction input
Rationale: The design-build gap refers to the risk and inefficiency that can arise when design criteria
or bridging documents are developed without input from the builder, potentially creating conflicts,
omissions, or unrealistic expectations once construction expertise is brought in.
,Question 5
A key advantage of design-build cited by DBIA research is:
A. It eliminates the need for any owner oversight
B. It compresses schedule through overlapping design and construction activities
C. It guarantees a lower total project cost in all cases
D. It removes the need for permits
Correct Answer: B. It compresses schedule through overlapping design and construction
activities
Rationale: Because design and construction are integrated under one entity, activities can overlap
(fast-tracking), compressing overall project delivery schedules. Design-build does not eliminate owner
oversight, guarantee lower costs in every case, or remove regulatory permitting requirements.
Question 6
Which project delivery risk is most directly reduced by using design-build instead of design-bid-
build?
A. Market risk for material price escalation
B. Risk of conflicting responsibility between designer and builder
C. Risk of labor strikes
D. Risk of changes in interest rates
Correct Answer: B. Risk of conflicting responsibility between designer and builder
Rationale: Because a single entity is responsible for both design and construction, the finger-pointing
and split responsibility risk common in design-bid-build (where the designer and contractor have
separate contracts with the owner) is significantly reduced.
, Question 7
In DBIA terminology, the entity that holds the prime contract with the owner for design and
construction services is called the:
A. Design-builder
B. Owner's representative
C. Design consultant of record
D. General contractor
Correct Answer: A. Design-builder
Rationale: The design-builder is the DBIA term for the single entity under prime contract to the owner
responsible for delivering both design and construction. A general contractor (D) typically only holds a
construction contract in traditional delivery.
Question 8
Which of the following is NOT one of the commonly recognized design-build variants?
A. Contractor-led design-build
B. Architect-led design-build
C. Integrated design-build joint venture
D. Owner-led design-bid-build
Correct Answer: D. Owner-led design-bid-build
Rationale: Owner-led design-bid-build is not a design-build variant at all; it is a separate delivery
method. Contractor-led, architect-led, and joint-venture structures are all recognized design-build
organizational models.
120 Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales
Question 1
Which single characteristic most fundamentally distinguishes design-build from design-bid-
build?
A. The owner holds one contract that covers both design and construction
B. The project is always delivered faster than design-bid-build
C. A guaranteed maximum price is required on every project
D. The architect always leads the design-build entity
Correct Answer: A. The owner holds one contract that covers both design and construction
Rationale: The defining structural feature of design-build is a single contract between the owner and
one entity (the design-builder) that is responsible for both design and construction. Speed (B) is a
common benefit but not the defining feature, a GMP (C) is one of several possible commercial
structures, and either a contractor or a design professional may lead the design-build entity (D).
Question 2
Under the DBIA's 'Design-Build Done Right(R)' philosophy, which of the following is one of the
core principles?
A. Select the design-build team based solely on lowest price
B. Foster relationships based on trust and open communication
C. Finalize 100% of design documents before selecting the design-builder
D. Prohibit the design-builder from having any design staff
Correct Answer: B. Foster relationships based on trust and open communication
Rationale: Design-Build Done Right(R) principles emphasize commitment to a culture of open
communication and trust among all parties. Selecting solely on price (A) contradicts best-value
selection principles, finalizing full design before selection (C) describes design-bid-build, and design-
build entities commonly include in-house or contracted design professionals (D).
,Question 3
In a design-build project, who typically holds the single point of responsibility for both design and
construction?
A. The owner's project manager
B. The design-builder
C. The construction manager at risk
D. The owner's design consultant
Correct Answer: B. The design-builder
Rationale: Design-build creates single-point responsibility with the design-builder, who is contractually
accountable for both design and construction outcomes. This consolidation is what differentiates it
from multi-party delivery methods like CM at Risk (C), where design and construction contracts remain
separate.
Question 4
Which of the following best describes the 'design-build gap'?
A. The time between substantial completion and final completion
B. The period between contract award and notice to proceed
C. The risk created when a design professional prepares bridging documents without construction
input
D. The difference between the owner's budget and the low bid
Correct Answer: C. The risk created when a design professional prepares bridging documents
without construction input
Rationale: The design-build gap refers to the risk and inefficiency that can arise when design criteria
or bridging documents are developed without input from the builder, potentially creating conflicts,
omissions, or unrealistic expectations once construction expertise is brought in.
,Question 5
A key advantage of design-build cited by DBIA research is:
A. It eliminates the need for any owner oversight
B. It compresses schedule through overlapping design and construction activities
C. It guarantees a lower total project cost in all cases
D. It removes the need for permits
Correct Answer: B. It compresses schedule through overlapping design and construction
activities
Rationale: Because design and construction are integrated under one entity, activities can overlap
(fast-tracking), compressing overall project delivery schedules. Design-build does not eliminate owner
oversight, guarantee lower costs in every case, or remove regulatory permitting requirements.
Question 6
Which project delivery risk is most directly reduced by using design-build instead of design-bid-
build?
A. Market risk for material price escalation
B. Risk of conflicting responsibility between designer and builder
C. Risk of labor strikes
D. Risk of changes in interest rates
Correct Answer: B. Risk of conflicting responsibility between designer and builder
Rationale: Because a single entity is responsible for both design and construction, the finger-pointing
and split responsibility risk common in design-bid-build (where the designer and contractor have
separate contracts with the owner) is significantly reduced.
, Question 7
In DBIA terminology, the entity that holds the prime contract with the owner for design and
construction services is called the:
A. Design-builder
B. Owner's representative
C. Design consultant of record
D. General contractor
Correct Answer: A. Design-builder
Rationale: The design-builder is the DBIA term for the single entity under prime contract to the owner
responsible for delivering both design and construction. A general contractor (D) typically only holds a
construction contract in traditional delivery.
Question 8
Which of the following is NOT one of the commonly recognized design-build variants?
A. Contractor-led design-build
B. Architect-led design-build
C. Integrated design-build joint venture
D. Owner-led design-bid-build
Correct Answer: D. Owner-led design-bid-build
Rationale: Owner-led design-bid-build is not a design-build variant at all; it is a separate delivery
method. Contractor-led, architect-led, and joint-venture structures are all recognized design-build
organizational models.
