Constructive Criticism - Episode 6: Delivery Methods & The Year in Review

To close out the year, Cale and I step back from the noise and talk honestly about how projects actually got delivered — and what the last year taught us about the state of construction.In this final episode of 2025, we break down the delivery methods we saw in the wild — CM/GC, design-build, design-bid-build, negotiated work — and what performed under pressure versus what looked good on paper but fell apart in practice.We cover:How different delivery methods actually played out this yearWhere owners, architects, and contractors stayed aligned — and where they didn’tWhy some projects thrived despite challenges, while others struggled from day oneLessons learned from real projects, not theoryWhat we’re carrying into next year — and what we’re leaving behindThis episode isn’t about predictions or buzzwords. It’s a candid year-end recap between a contractor and an architect who’ve both been in the arena, comparing notes on what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change if we want better outcomes next year.If you care about project delivery, collaboration, and learning from real experience instead of repeating the same mistakes — this is the right place to end the year.