DDC’s 2025 Strategic Blueprint Details Progress and Next Steps in Reforming the Capital Process

Design-build and other forms of alternative delivery are transforming how the City builds, cutting years off project timelines

DDC continues to look towards the future of project delivery on behalf of the City of New York

DDC: Ian Michaels, 646-939-6514, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov

(Long Island City, NY – August 11, 2025) The construction and procurement reforms implemented by the New York City Department of Design and Construction’s (DDC) Strategic Blueprint are transforming how the City builds, reducing project timelines and saving taxpayers millions of dollars every year, Acting DDC Commissioner Eduardo del Valle said today as the agency introduced the latest update to its strategic plan, the 2025 Strategic Blueprint.

“As the Department of Design and Construction approaches its 30th year of delivering world-class capital construction projects in every neighborhood across New York City, we are transforming the way DDC plans, design, and builds – changes that will accomplish much needed projects for our communities far faster,” said Acting Commissioner del Valle. “This couldn’t happen soon enough, DDC’s capital program continues to expand with urgently needed projects.

“Under the leadership of former Commissioner Thomas Foley, First Deputy Commissioner Eric Macfarlane, and the entire DDC agency team, the agency has led transformative changes to the capital delivery process, showing what’s possible when DDC is provided with the right tools. So far in 2025, we have completed two major design-build projects for NYC Parks, saving years and millions of dollars when compared to traditional low-bid contracting. We have delivered critical infrastructure and public buildings better and faster thanks to the changes we’ve made at every step of the process.”

DDC recently completed its first design-build project outside of the Borough-Based Jails (BBJ) program, a new Orchard Beach Maintenance & Operations facility for NYC Parks in the Bronx, more than two and a half years faster than would have been possible with traditional design-bid-build delivery and with cost savings of $3.59 million, or ten percent of the project’s overall budget. Another major design-build project for NYC Parks in Brooklyn, the new $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, hit the substantial completion milestone on time last month and is on track to open later this year at least three years faster than would have been possible.

Overall, DDC has awarded 12 design-build contracts valued at over $800 million in its design-build program for public buildings and infrastructure. After years of advocacy with leaders in the AEC industry, the agency secured expanded authorization from the State Legislature last session to use CM-Build for future library and cultural projects, and a form of progressive design-build for future resiliency projects. DDC’s first design-build infrastructure project is also well underway, making pedestrian safety improvements and installing new water mains on Lexington Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

Earlier this year, two major reforms that were first proposed in DDC’s Blueprint were expanded after successful pilot programs at DDC. Advanced Capital Planning introduces better data and technical planning support to DDC’s sponsor agencies earlier in the process, supporting holistic, long-term capital planning that will ultimately get the right projects started faster. During construction, Expanded Work Allowance functions as a registered contingency fund that allows changes to be addressed months faster, keeping construction moving. These are just some of the Blueprint recommendations that have been implemented since DDC’s Blueprint 2022:

Releasing solicitations for the next round of public buildings design contracts, incorporating improvements from direct engagement with the industry;
Partnering with the NYC Public Design Commission to streamline design review;
Hiring a DOB project advocate and partnering with DOB to centralize permit approvals for DDC projects;
Launching updated construction contracts with cost adjustments for fuel, steel, and asphalt; enhanced mobilization; early completion incentives; and value engineering options;
Launching an all-new streamlined contractor payment process;
Training over 150 staff in design-build delivery, with over 70 becoming DBIA-certified;
Supporting an increase in maximum contract values for M/WBE Small Purchase method procurements from $500,000 prior to 2022 to $1.5 million in 2023;
Incorporating community hiring into all contracts;
Partnering with the Mayor’s Capital Process Reform Task Force to achieve major gains including electronic bidding, new public notice and comment period to replace public hearings, and resetting thresholds for Financial Control Board contract review and OMB Capital Approval Standards.

The Strategic Blueprint 2025 proposes several other reforms to bring about transformational change in capital project delivery, including:

Passing State legislation to expand DDC’s access to alternative delivery tools, expanding Joint Bidding, and transforming DDC into a new public authority;
Delegating oversight approval, inspection, and signoff authority to DDC’s licensed professionals wherever possible;
Launching Enhanced Front End Planning to enable better coordinated, climate-ready, long-range planning for City infrastructure;
Revising the Procurement Policy Board (PPB) rules to allow DDC to more easily replace a failing contractor;
Releasing standard specifications for low carbon concrete and driving sustainability performance through contract incentives and other measures;
Fully rolling out DDC’s streamlined contractor payment forms and processes and launching the process to reform payments for professional service contracts.

These reforms will collectively transform capital project delivery to build better, faster, and cheaper for New Yorkers, making good on DDC’s commitments in its Strategic Blueprint 2022 and charting the road ahead.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $34 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.