Pittsburgh is growing quickly. With new hospitals, tech campuses and research hubs rising across the city, the pressure is on developers to deliver projects quickly and efficiently, all without sacrificing long-term performance. To meet that challenge, more build teams are starting to leverage delegated design and design assist. These approaches bring in specialty engineers early, especially for systems like concrete masonry (CMU), to streamline detailing, reduce risk and ensure construction is both code-compliant and cost-effective. It’s a strategy that’s gaining momentum nationwide and one that could be a game-changer for a city like Pittsburgh.
What Is Delegated Design?
As with any build project, the architect of record (AOR) defines the performance criteria for the building based on its occupancy, use and location, while the engineer of record (EOR) develops the final structural details, calculations and drawings. But it can get overwhelming and cumbersome to handle all the details of every specific building system and material. Delegated design brings in specialists who can do the heavy lifting on complex systems. For example, designing a CMU wall assembly requires careful consideration of seismic forces, climate conditions, wall geometry, fire ratings, energy codes and building code compliance. The EOR still maintains final performance approvals, but the specialty engineer, who knows and works with their assigned system regularly, provides the details and scope for that system.
Why Pittsburgh Teams Should Take Note
These systems can be overdesigned as a precaution, leading to unnecessary material use, added costs and project inefficiencies. By adopting delegated design, Pittsburgh developers can benefit from:
- Faster Starts: The deferred delegated design submittal can combine what currently takes three separate entities: structural design, reinforcement shop drawings and wall bracing/construction safety plans, streamlining the process.
- Efficient Design: Delegated design ensures efficiency, avoiding excess reinforcement, unnecessary grout and inefficient labor.
- Better Field Fit: Delegated engineers work closely with contractors and block suppliers, helping shop drawings match what’s being built. Fewer surprises, fewer Requests for Information (RFIs), fewer change orders.
- Clearer Roles: AOR defines the vision, EOR oversees structure and the delegated engineer focuses on CMU. That clarity prevents miscommunication.
- Resilience Built In: Delegated design ensures CMU systems are tailored to Pittsburgh’s real-world demands — from thermal performance to lateral loads.
Real-World Examples: Lessons From Michigan
The building industry in Michigan has excelled using delegated design, providing real-world examples that others are striving toward. At the MyMichigan Medical Center1 in Alpena, a 97,500-square-foot patient tower used loadbearing CMU and multiple façade materials to meet a demanding clinical program. The team prioritized early collaboration, and the complex façade system went up without a single issue.
In another project, Tri County Schools originally planned a K–5 school using precast concrete. A structural engineer with JK Masonry, Inc. proposed a design-assisted alternate using load-bearing CMU. The result was a simplified process, months
shaved off the schedule and $500,000 to $750,000 in savings.
These examples show what Pittsburgh can replicate with its own projects: quality builds, fewer delays and real cost control by leveraging CMU expertise early in the process.
What Delegated Design Means for Pittsburgh Development
In a city that’s building fast and aiming high, delegated design can help Pittsburgh teams move efficiently without compromising quality. Just like it has in Michigan, it can bring serious benefits to CMU-intensive projects, saving time, cutting costs and delivering high-performance buildings that last.
