Across the nation, infrastructure owners are increasingly turning to design-build and other collaborative delivery methods to deliver projects faster, more efficiently and with greater innovation. According to the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), design-build is expected to account for over 47% of U.S. construction spending by 2028, with specific growth in the manufacturing, highway/roadway, and education market sectors. Meanwhile, progressive design-build, which fosters early collaboration and shared risk between owners, designers and contractors, is also gaining traction as agencies seek smarter, more transparent ways to achieve complex outcomes.

For more than four decades, STV has been at the forefront of this shift. The firm has successfully delivered hundreds of design-build, construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) and progressive design-build projects – spanning highways, bridges, rail systems and facilities, educational and federal buildings and airports – while helping public owners pioneer new procurement models that reshape how infrastructure gets built. From delivering the first design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM) transit system in the country to leading the design of North Carolina’s first progressive design-build project, STV has routinely demonstrated how collaboration drives performance, cost savings and innovation.

As the design-build market expands, STV is also growing its experience as a program and construction manager (PM/CM) on alternative delivery projects. Across the nation – and particularly in New York City’s public housing sector – STV’s PM/CM teams are helping owners navigate the evolving risk landscape of design-build, providing oversight, schedule management and technical guidance from procurement through commissioning. By representing owners’ interests within integrated delivery teams, STV is reinforcing its reputation as a trusted partner capable of bridging the traditional boundaries between design, construction and management.

Below are some standout examples from STV’s portfolio that illustrate the firm’s legacy and ongoing leadership in alternative delivery excellence.

Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit DBOM, Hudson & Bergen Counties, New Jersey

The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Transit system marked a national milestone as the United States’ first major design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM) transit project. STV provided multidisciplinary design for bridges, stations, maintenance facilities and track infrastructure along a 20-mile corridor with 33 stations. Its integration of civil, structural and systems design set new standards for public-private collaboration in transit delivery. The project’s success demonstrated the long-term operational efficiencies of performance-based delivery, winning multiple national honors, including an American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Award.

I-485/I-85 Turbine Interchange, Charlotte, North Carolina

STV and Lane Construction Corporation’s innovation for this design-build project revolutionized interchange design in North Carolina. The firm introduced an Alternative Technical Concept (ATC) – a two-level “turbine” configuration – to replace a planned four-level stack interchange. The solution cut 50 feet in height, eliminated massive flyovers, improved safety and saved $50 million in costs. The project’s success prompted the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to institutionalize ATCs statewide, transforming the agency’s approach to design-build procurement. The interchange earned national recognition from DBIA and Engineering News-Record as one of the year’s best projects.

Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal A, Newark, New Jersey

As lead designer for the largest design-build project in New Jersey’s history, STV worked with the Tutor Perini/Parsons joint venture to reimagine Newark Liberty International Airport’s new $1.4 billion Terminal A, delivering a modern, LEED Gold-certified, 33-gate terminal. The project redefined efficiency in aviation design-build, integrating sustainable systems, advanced security screening and digital media infrastructure within a streamlined modular structure. STV’s collaborative approach balanced design excellence, constructability and passenger experience – setting a new benchmark for design-build delivery in aviation.

GRTC Pulse Bus Rapid Transit, Richmond, Virginia

For Virginia’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) system, STV, as a subconsultant to Lane Construction Corporation, led the design under a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) design-build contract, delivering 7.6 miles of BRT lanes with 14 stations through one of the state’s densest corridors. The firm’s use of integrated ITS, transit signal priority systems and innovative stormwater management exemplified the power of design-build collaboration to accelerate urban mobility projects. Completed on an aggressive 17-month design schedule, The Pulse achieved DBIA and ACEC honors and continues to spur transit-oriented development across Richmond.

U.S. Coast Guard Houston–Galveston Sector Building, Houston, Texas

After the original U.S. Coast Guard Sector Field Office was destroyed by Hurricane Ike in 2008, STV and Mortenson partnered to deliver a design-build replacement facility that would ensure long-term operational resilience along the Gulf Coast. The new 111,500-square-foot complex consolidates mission-critical offices, training and command functions, medical/dental services, berthing, dining and fitness facilities within a hardened, hurricane-resistant structure designed to maintain functionality during and after major storm events. Designed to meet Anti-Terrorism/Force-Protection standards and achieve LEED Silver certification, the building exemplifies how design-build collaboration can deliver high-performance, resilient federal infrastructure that protects personnel and assets in one of the nation’s most storm-prone regions. The project earned a DBIA National Award of Merit in the Civic/Assembly category.

I-Move Kentucky, Jefferson & Oldham Counties, Kentucky

As design lead for the $180 million I-Move KY design-build corridor program, STV delivered Kentucky’s largest transportation design-build project since the Ohio River Bridges Program. The initiative combined four major highway improvements under one delivery, integrating interstate widening, interchange reconstruction and the state’s first partial turbine interchange. Working with Johnson Brothers, Hall Contracting and HMB, the team’s phased design sequencing and “buildable unit” strategy enabled continuous construction and minimized disruption across 28 miles – showcasing how design-build can unify complex, multi-jurisdictional programs under a single vision.

I-85 over the Yadkin River Bridge, Rowan & Davidson Counties, North Carolina

The award-winning I-85 Yadkin River Veterans Memorial Bridge is a hallmark of STV’s design-build expertise. The project, led by Flatiron Construction Corporation, utilized a “top-down” bridge construction approach enabling work within tight right-of-way and environmental constraints, minimizing impacts while replacing aging infrastructure critical to North-South freight movement. The project’s collaborative design yielded safer construction, no major traffic incidents and national recognition from DBIA and ENR. It remains a model of how innovative delivery can merge engineering precision with public safety priorities.

Chimney Rock, North Carolina Progressive Design-Build Emergency Reconstruction, Henderson County, North Carolina

STV and Wright Brothers continue to advance the evolution of alternative delivery NCDOT’s first progressive design-build transportation project. The Chimney Rock emergency reconstruction program brings early contractor involvement and continuous cost transparency to a corridor known for challenging terrain and stakeholder coordination needs. As the progressive design-build lead, STV is helping NCDOT refine standards that will guide future projects statewide—continuing the firm’s legacy as a catalyst for innovation in project delivery.

NYCHA Polo Grounds Towers, Harlem, New York

A first for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the Pneumatic Waste Collection System at the authority’s Polo Grounds Towers housing complex represents a new generation of design-build projects for public housing infrastructure. STV served as construction manager for the installation of this state-of-the-art automated waste collection system, which replaces traditional trash handling with an underground vacuum network that improves sanitation, reduces emissions and enhances quality of life for residents. As CM, STV guided NYCHA through the design-build process, coordinating contractors, engineers and city agencies to meet sustainability and public health goals. The project has become a model for future smart-waste systems across NYCHA campuses and underscores STV’s growing role in managing design-build programs for public owners.