DBIA NW Oregon Chapter Mindset Shift: Design-Build Teams Under Pressure

Design-Build creates the opportunity for integration — but the delivery method alone doesn’t make a team integrated. This interactive panel looks at the Design-Build mindset shift exploring the building blocks that make collaboration work in practice: shared goals, decision-making, information flow, risk ownership, and clear roles. An Owners Rep, contractor, architect, and engineer will examine where integration commonly breaks down and what teams can establish upstream to better navigate those moments. Attendees will then work through real-world scenarios with their tables, testing how these principles hold up when cost, schedule, design, and risk collide.

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Moderator:

Sarah Young, NCARB, CDT, DBIA- Founder & Principal, PORCH
Sarah Young is a licensed architect and founder of PORCH — Architecture | Planning | Project Strategy. She holds a B.S. in Interior Design from Texas State University and an M.Arch from Pratt Institute. Since joining the AEC industry in 2012, she has worked on projects ranging from high-rise commercial buildings in New York City to wineries in Oregon. For the past five years, she has served as a Senior Project Manager at Open Concept Architecture, delivering more than 15 projects while managing a broader portfolio of work across design-build and other integrated delivery models; bringing firsthand experience in the coordination, decision-making, and collaboration required to move projects from design through construction. Through PORCH, Sarah is building on that experience with a practice combining architecture, project strategy, and project management to meet projects where they are and provide the support they need. Whether establishing a clear path from the outset or helping teams navigate challenges as projects evolve, she focuses on practical problem-solving, shared decision-making, and the mindset shifts that allow design and construction teams to move beyond their individual roles and work toward common goals.

Panelists:

Noah Toomey, AIA, Assoc. DBIA – Director – Strategic Growth, SAK Builders Inc.
Noah Toomey is the Director of Strategic Growth at SAK Builders Inc., a leading concrete construction firm, where he brings more than 24 years of experience across architecture and construction. With a career grounded in both design and delivery, Noah plays a key role in advancing the firm’s strategic vision, market development, and collaborative delivery approach. A passionate advocate for design-build and integrated project delivery, Noah consistently champions solutions that align teams early, strengthen collaboration, and exceed Owner expectations. He is known for fostering high performance teams built on trust, transparency, and open communication—critical elements in delivering successful design build outcomes. Noah’s leadership style emphasizes alignment, accountability, and innovation, enabling teams to navigate complexity while driving value throughout the project lifecycle. His strategic insight and deep industry experience continue to shape SAK Builders’ growth trajectory, positioning the company as a trusted partner on complex, high impact construction projects.

James Spence – Redpoint CM

Biography coming soon!

Shawn Evilsizor, PE, SE, DBIA, – Senior Structural Engineer, Morrison-Maierle
Shawn Evilsizor is a senior structural engineer and the Bend/Spokane Regional Buildings Group Leader at Morrison-Maierle, responsible for managing the full-service structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and low voltage engineering team across Oregon and Washington. Shawn’s design portfolio includes aviation, K-12, higher education, public works, multifamily housing, public safety, and healthcare facilities. He has experience in all construction types, including steel, conventional and post-tensioned concrete, masonry, wood, and mass timber. Shawn believes that successful projects start with creative problem-solving, leveraging the expertise of trade partners and the Design-Builder/CMGC to create cost-effective designs, and achieving client satisfaction through team collaboration and open communication. All of which is exemplified by his DBIA certification.

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