They selected their buildings from 38 states. Generally, owners are satisfied. But when it comes down to the negatives of a particular job, the members of their building teams in no measure get off scot-free. With a development's many machinations and missteps, owners have lots of steam to release about their projects' weak links, from frustrations over poor design detailing to being razzed about late deliveries and never-ending punch lists. Self-admonishing owners like these, who bear primary responsibility for setting the stage and the tone, are nevertheless quite demanding of their building teams.
Clients grouse about more than just the team.
Public owners feel hog-tied by local politics and the delivery system imposed on them by law. In Burke's opinion, design-build's promoters are selling local governments a bill of goods. Robert B. Williams, director of the Maricopa County Stadium District, is one of those owners. The numbers don't always tell the whole story, he adds. Also, the stadium district chose not to spend time updating the original budget as work progressed and the project was expanded.