A “traditional project delivery process” is where the owner hires an architect to prepare drawings, then the owner hires a general contractor to bid and build the project. The traditional process could creates communication problems and has higher chance of cost increase during construction. In the “traditional project delivery process”, the architect and contractor boundaries are more restricted.
An “integrated project delivery process” is where the owner requires a level of sophistication and a willingness to get involved. Contractor and suppliers were appointed from the beginning. The architect issued drawings in a collaborative relationship with the owner, contractor and suppliers. Decisions are made when they need to be made to eliminate redundant work. Contractor and suppliers are able to share their knowledge and expertise when it is most valuable in the design process.