University study into D&B

Reading University is about to begin tracking scores of design and build projects as part of its major study into the method's performance and future.

Questionnaires are about to be sent to clients' representatives on 2,000 schemes that have been handpicked to cover the range of design and build, construction management, management and traditional procurement.

The university hopes for at least 400 returns, which will be fed through a statistical analysis developed by researchers to compare cost and time performance and give a verdict on the best procurement route.

Quality will be assessed separately by a number of in-depth case studies, which will be chosen on the basis of the questionnaire returns.

The œ200,000 study - which is supported by Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Norwich Union, Slough Estates and NatWest - will also scrutinise client opinion of the major forms, and the briefing techniques used for design and build.

New video techniques - currently being trialed - will be used in a third leg of the study. The design and detailing of around 20 buildings will be filmed and passed to a sample of 200-300 people, who will be asked to assess quality.

'We can show it to all sorts of people,' said research leader James Pain. 'We can see to what extent different respondents answer in different ways. For example, is it only the architects who can spot a design and build building? That would be a very interesting finding.'

Pain says the forum is on course to produce its conclusions on design and build by the autumn, with a full report and good practice recommendations expected by spring next year.