The Builders Association of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania hosted a dynamic seminar on project delivery methods, featuring nationally recognized construction law and project management expert Jeff Appelbaum.
More than 60 attendees, including owners, architects and contractors, gathered at The Grand Resort in Warren to enhance their understanding of effective strategies.
Appelbaum has 40 years of expertise in construction law, project management and dispute resolution. He’s a partner at Thompson Hine and managing director at Project Management Consultants LLC.
“Every project begins with the question, ‘What system should we use?’ There’s a menu of options and making the wrong choice can jeopardize critical objectives,” Appelbaum said.
Why project delivery methods matter
From design-bid-build to construction management at risk (CMAR) and design-build, each method offers distinct benefits and challenges.
Appelbaum focused on public construction projects, where procurement rules and contract structures play a crucial role in success.
He explained that no single method fits every project, and that a careful, objective analysis is key to success.
“Every method has strengths and weaknesses, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution,” he added.
One major takeaway from the seminar was the importance of aligning the delivery method with a project’s specific needs. Industry trends are shifting in Ohio and Pennsylvania, with public entities exploring alternatives beyond the traditional design-bid-build approach.
Where the Mahoning Valley stands
While the Mahoning Valley’s construction industry is gradually adopting newer project delivery methods, some challenges remain.
According to Kevin Reilly, executive vice president of The Builders Association, many project stakeholders are still unfamiliar with these approaches.
“Because it’s new for them, there’s been some misunderstandings. Even though project delivery reform was enacted 14 years ago, we’re just now starting to see more public owners explore options,” Reilly said.
He emphasized the need for education, particularly for owners and architects, who often serve as owner representatives.
“We wanted to get an expert in front of our members, in front of the architects, and also bring in some public owners. The goal is to start the process of educating them about the delivery methods available under the state-recognized guidelines.”
This education is especially critical for municipalities, school districts, and other public entities, which must navigate a complex regulatory landscape when selecting a delivery method.
Paying attention to the pitfalls
One of the most engaging parts of the seminar was Appelbaum’s discussion of common mistakes in project delivery. He polled the audience on their experiences with project failures, revealing that over 60 percent of attendees had witnessed delivery breakdowns due to poor implementation.
Some of the most frequent issues included:
- Misunderstanding of roles and expectations
- Selecting the wrong delivery method for a project’s needs
- Contracts that didn’t align with the intended delivery method
- Lack of communication between stakeholders
He explained that many projects fail not because the work isn’t being done, but because teams don’t have a clear, shared understanding of responsibilities from the start.
Appelbaum also touched on the Spearin Doctrine, which states that contractors can rely on the accuracy of project plans and specifications – but also highlights gaps in liability between owners, architects, and contractors.
These legal complexities make it even more important to select the right delivery method upfront.
Continuing the conversation
The Builders Association hopes the seminar sparks a broader discussion about the best practices in project delivery.
“We kind of wanted to start at ‘project delivery 101’, and then eventually bring Jeff back for a deeper dive into the pros and cons of each method for different types of projects,” Reilly said.
As the construction industry evolves, events like this help owners, architects, and contractors stay ahead of industry trends and make better-informed decisions.