LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gray, a Lexington-based construction and design firm, has released a new whitepaper examining the rapidly expanding adoption of design-build delivery methods across industrial projects, according to the Lane Report.

The paper, drawing on research from industry organizations including the Design-Build Institute of America, the Construction Industry Institute, and the Associated General Contractors, highlights evidence showing that design-build delivery can improve critical phases of projects from inception through turnover.

Founded in 1960 and based in Lexington, Gray examined how the design-build model enables design, procurement, construction, and operations decisions to be made earlier in the project lifecycle, when owners have the greatest opportunity to influence outcomes.

"Industrial projects today face a level of complexity that requires more than simply managing individual scopes of work," said Stephen Gray, President & CEO of Gray, Inc. "Integrated project delivery models are proving more than capable and why so many owners are turning to design-build as a strategic approach."

The whitepaper documents design-build's evolution from an alternative method into a mainstream approach. Industry forecasts project design-build will account for nearly half of all construction spending in the coming years, with recent data suggesting those projections are on track.

In design-build, an owner enters into a single contract covering both architectural design services and physical construction, streamlining collaboration and coordination. Research shows projects are completed faster and more cost-effectively compared to traditional delivery methods.

Rebekah Gray, President & CEO of Gray Construction, emphasized the collaborative advantages: "The most successful projects bring together technical, operational, and construction perspectives early in the process to influence outcomes. Design-build creates a framework for that collaboration."

The whitepaper also explores design-build's role in addressing modern project challenges, including permitting complexity, long-lead procurement, workforce shortages, tariff uncertainty, and increasing demand for faster delivery to market. Gray said clear data from independent research and a large body of successful work underscore design-build's bright future.